| Date of Birth | June 1, 1925 |
| Passed Away | December 19, 2009 |
| Place of Residence | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | December 23, 2009 |
| Service Time | 1 P.M. |
| Service Location | Arkport Presbyterian Church |
| Interment Location | Rural Cemetery, Hornell |
HERMAN M. DAVIS
HORNELL-Herman M. Davis, 84, of 166 Leach Ave., passed away Saturday evening (Dec. 19, 2009) at Hornell Gardens surrounded by the family he loved so much. Herm took God’s hand and peacefully walked away. His family has lost our beloved “Grandpa Herm.”
He was born on June 1, 1925 in the town of Howard to Lewis and Mildred Burdett Davis.
Herm lived his entire life in the Hornell area and attended the one room schoolhouse his mother taught in and graduated from Hornell High School in 1942. After graduating from high school, Herm continued working on the family farm on the Big Creek Road in the town of Howard with his father. For many years he also ran a milk route.
On Nov. 14, 1964 Herm married the former Erla McGregor and together they raised five children.
In 1968 he began his employment at the Foster-Wheeler Corp. in Dansville, retiring in 1987 with 19 years of service. After retiring he was employed as guard at the former M-K Corporation in Hornell and later worked as the “handyman” at the former Maple Crest Manor in Hornell where the staff and residents lovingly called him “Mr. D.”
Although he had stopped farming many years ago, you could never truly take the farmer out of him. After moving from the farm, for many years he continued to plant a garden there and always enjoyed helping his son, Earl, once he began running the farm again. Herm’s love of farming was exceeded only by the love he had for his family.
For many years he was a member of the Big Creek Grange and the Howard Masonic Lodge. He was also a youth fellowship leader at the Big Creek Church and sang in a quartet with his father, his brother, Charles and his uncle, Elmer Burdett.
Herm’s soft-spoken nature and gentle spirit made him a friend to all who knew him. He was a treasure to his family and a gift to anyone that knew him. He will be truly missed.
Besides his wife of 45 years, his family includes his five children, Earl (Chris) MacNaughton, Kay (Nathan) Cornell, Carl (Denise) MacNaughton, Laurie (Mike) Whiteman all of Hornell and Jeff (Jessica) Davis of Bath; his 12 grandchildren, Claire (Kevin) White, Shawn and Shad MacNaughton, Andrea (Chris) Muhleisen, Michael Cornell, Matthew and Mitchell MacNaughton, Josh and Madison Whiteman and Eli, Jonas and Catherine Davis; his four great-grandchildren, Arden and Adrianna White and Jaxson and Kenny Muhleisen; his brother, Charles (Laura) Davis of Etna, NY; his sister, Dorothy Smith of Hornell; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents.
At Herm’s request there will be no calling hours. A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 23) at the Arkport Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Steven Jewell officiating. Private committal services and interment will be held at the convenience of his family at Rural Cemetery, Hornell.
In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations in Herm’s name be made to either the Hornell Area Humane Society, PO Box 533, Hornell, NY 14843 or to the Arkport Presbyterian Church, PO Box 6, 15 Main St., Arkport, NY 14807.
Our family would like to thank Vicki Burns and the wonderful staff at the Hornell Gardens who so compassionately and lovingly cared for Herm in his final days.
Mrs. Davis (Earla)
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this time of sorrow. Herm was a great man that always stopped to talk with us whenever going to do one of his many handy jobs. He will be forever missed, for his great sense of humor and his friendship to all that he encountered.
Again our thoughts are with you!!!!!!!!!!
I feel it was a privalige to spend time with the family and get reaquainted.Your dad was a very loving and caring guy who showed in all he was how important his family was to him.
I miss my dad.
When we remember Herm it will be with a smile.He always made everyone feel welcome and at ease and found the good in everyone.
I remember running home from Bryant School to give Dad a kiss goodbye before he left for work. On Saturday night, 35 years later, I rushed to Hornell Gardens from work to give my Dad one final kiss goodbye. He always found time for me whether it was to take me fishing, to the model train store in Cameron, or to have a catch in the street in front of our house. He was an amazing person and I feel truely blessed to have had him as my father. I miss him…
I miss you dad. I think of you every day. You may have not been my biological father but you were the best dad a girl could ask for. I love you.
What a wonderful person you were Dad. Heaven truly gained an angel the day you left us Dad. I miss the sound of your voice singing in church, I miss the taste of your chocolate fudge, I miss the childhood delight you brought to Christmas, but most of all I miss you Dad. I will miss you forever but I’ll love you for longer.
It will be the little things
that you will remember,
the quiet moments,
the smiles, the laughter.
And although it may seem
hard right now,
it will be the memories
of these little things
that help to push
away the pain
and bring the smiles
back again.
With Loving Memories
When I married Laurie because I loved her I got one of the best friends of my life. Herm was always there for me if I nedded somthing. Sometimes it was just to laugh, which was the best about Herm. Thanks for all you gave me Herm. Remember watch out for that splitting wedge.
It’s been 2 months today Dad and I still miss you like you just left yesterday….
Happy Birthday Grandpa Herm. I sure do miss you.
It’s been 6 months today Dad. I still miss you every day and will never lose the longing for you to be here. You just had that something special and it made you a delight to be around. They didn’t break the mold after they made you. You were specially hand-crafted by God. There was no mold to break. I hope you are enjoying Heaven Dad. It was the only reason I could let you go. I miss you.
Love,
Laurie
It’s been more than 6 months Dad and I can’t express how much I still miss you. As time goes by I know I will never lose the longing for you to still be here. What a special person you were. There was no mold to break after you were made. You were specially handcrafted by God. I hope you have found happiness in Heaven. It was the one reason I could let you go when the time came. I love you Dad.
Laurie
t
Well dad, it’s been a year since you took gods hand and went home. It’s been a sad year with so much loss of loved ones but I am sure they are all there looking down on us and watching over us. Miss you every day and think about you every day. Love you…..
Christmas without you
White Christmas and I’m blue
I love you I miss you
So sad but so true
Christmas without you
Like a mystery with no clues
Like fireworks with no fuse
Christmas without you
The sweetest gift I know would be if the new snow
Could fall on your footsteps on this Christmas Eve
The most joyous Christmas if luck could be with us
Would be if Saint Nicholas brought you home to me
A few lines from a X-mas song sung by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. I think of you every time I hear this. Miss you dad. Love ya
Dear Dad,
One year ago tomorrow will mark the day I left you in final resting place. A place I visit once a week just to be near you. I know your spirit lives on. I know it every time I see a penny laying anywhere on the floor or ground. I’m sure it’s your way of letting me know you’ve been here. This has been such a difficult year, adjusting to life without you being part of my day. This time of hear is particularly hard. It’s not just the chocolate fudge I miss (but you left all of us wondering what you did so different that made it turn out perfect everytime-stirring it with your finger maybe.) I miss you, Dad. More than I could every express with words. My life will never be the same again. I just hope Heaven is everything you wanted it to be. You truly were an angel. Meery Christmas in Heaven.
Love,
Laurie