Tom Davis
Thomas Duane Davis died Jan. 7, 2021, while in care at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley due to complications from COVID-19. Tom was born Nov. 24, 1947, in Haxtun to his parents, Andrew and Opal (Marvin) Davis.
He attended Haxtun schools and graduated from Haxtun High School in 1966. He loved playing sports, playing drums in the band and singing in the choir. Tom earned certification from the police academy and the sheriff’s academy.
He was a member of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, Colorado Law Enforcement Officers Association, Colorado State Firefighters Association, Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Haxtun Police Department, Haxtun Volunteer Fire Department, Haxtun Ambulance Service, Haxtun United Methodist Church, Haxtun Lions Club, Haxtun Masonic Lodge No. 164, Shriners and the Haxtun Booster Club.
Tom’s father died while he was in the fourth grade, and he and his five older brothers were raised by an amazing mother in a one-bedroom house in Haxtun. He learned responsibility early, helping at home and doing odd jobs to help with the family finances.
Tom married his wife, Theresa Irene Harms, on Nov. 5, 1966, and was employed at various jobs until he turned 21 and joined the Haxtun Police Department. He stayed in that job until Dec. 31, 1974, when he ran for sheriff and was elected in Phillips County. He was in the Sheriff’s Office until August of 1977, when he resigned to become police chief in Haxtun. Too much politics is what he used to say about the sheriff’s office.
Tom remained police chief in Haxtun until he retired in August 1998. Many citizens recall the help he provided as a police officer at all times of need. Teenagers recall him keeping an eye on them, telling them to go home when it was time and sometimes following them to make sure they made it. Tom displayed responsibility and respect and cared deeply for his community, being a strong, positive role model for many.
He was a fireman for 30 years and an EMT for the Haxtun ambulance for many years. Following retirement, Tom worked for the Haxtun Hospital District and the Phillips County Road & Bridge Department for another 18 years. Tom, as a Shriner, also sponsored many trips for Haxtun students to attend the circus in Denver.
Tom was a family man and proud father. Three children were born from Tom and Theresa’s union: Kim (Davis) Turney in 1967, Tamara (Davis) Durbin in 1969 and Tommy Davis in 1972. He loved watching his children play sports and participate in school and community activities, and he was proud to videotape all of these special moments with his children.
Many of Tom’s weekends were spent remodeling at either his home or one of his brothers’ homes. The cousins all got to spend a lot of time together. He was a great carpenter in his spare time, and he loved taking family trips and camping in Poudre with all the Davis crew every year.
He and his wife, Theresa, nearly made it to all 50 states and visited Mexico and Canada. As a couple they enjoyed cruises, and photo books are full of beautiful memories from these trips and experiences.
Through the years, he gained 10 grandchildren. He loved to rock the babies, but they finally figured out that if they crawled into his chair with him, they would fall asleep. He was an excellent whistler, which he tried to instill in them.
He loved watching his grandchildren excel in sports, activities and school and traveled with groups of his grandchildren to different locations for vacations, making enduring, lasting memories. He instilled in them a feeling of accomplishment and was incredibly proud of the young adults they are.
After his retirement, he needed the T-shirt that said, “I’m not really retired, because now I work for my wife.” Tom helped Theresa with her child care business throughout their entire married life. He would fix broken toys, build things and rock the babies to sleep and treated all the day care children like family. Many children benefited from his guidance and love.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Theresa (Harms) Davis of Haxtun; children, Kim (Davis) and Dan Turney, Tamara (Davis) and Jeff Durbin, and Tommy and Dana (Pierce) Davis, all of Haxtun; brother, Will Davis and wife Andrea of Hudson; grandchildren, Josh Turney of Wales, United Kingdom, Jayden (Durbin) Miracle and husband Chad and soon-to-be great-grandchild baby Miracle of Sterling, Jordyn Turney and fiance David Alkire of Greeley, Andrew Davis, in the Navy and stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Brandon Durbin of Sterling, Brooklyn Davis, going to college in Denver, Hailey Durbin of Haxtun, Christopher Durbin of Haxtun, Jerron Turney of Haxtun and Ryan Davis of Haxtun; his wife’s family, brothers Virgil and Eloise Harms of Paoli and Dennis and Donna Harms of Imperial, Nebraska, and sister Lorraine Green of Julesburg; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dean Davis, Gene Davis, George Davis and Jim Davis and their spouses; and granddaughter, Sydney Durbin, infant daughter of Jeff and Tamara Durbin.
Memorials to the Tom Davis Memorial Fund can be mailed to 202 Westridge Ave., Haxtun, CO 80731.
Visitation was scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m.-noon at Haxtun United Methodist Church.
The funeral service was scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 1:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Haxtun, with interment at Haxtun Cemetery. The service was to be livestreamed on Baucke Funeral Home and Monuments’ Facebook page.
Baucke Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.