Ray Davenport

Ray M. Davenport, 88, of Jackson passed away Sunday, Aug. 14, 2005, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, where he had lived the past two years.

He was born March 28, 1917, at Whitewater, son of Ben F. and Jeffie A. Davis Davenport. He and Esther D. Overbeck were married Dec. 24, 1947. She passed away Aug. 25, 2000.

Ray was inducted into the U.S. Army March 9, 1942, at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. A private first class, he was a light machine gunner, serving in Normandy, North France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged Oct. 31, 1945, at Jefferson Barracks.

Ray was a self-employed carpenter working many years in residential construction. He bought a small farm north of Jackson in 1967, and in 1968 retired from construction to farm full time. He was a member of Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville and Disabled American Veterans in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Bruce Lorenz of Jackson; three grandchildren, Jonathan and Clarissa Lorenz of Columbia, Mo., (University of Missouri), Andrew Lorenz of Jackson; a sister, Grace Proffer of Jackson; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Carl, Roy and Troy Davenport; and two sisters, Hazel Proffer and Jewel Davenport.

Friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ann Mowery officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery with military honors.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau or Zion United Methodist Building Fund.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at mccombsfuneralhome.com.