BY KYLE TROUTMAN
Colleagues and friends of former Barry County sheriff Gary Davis remember the 30-year law enforcement professional as a knowledgeable and dedicated individual eager to help.
Davis, 74, died at his home on Thursday. He was elected Barry County sheriff in 2016 and left the office in 2020.
Danny Boyd, current Barry County sheriff, said when the transition took place at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021, Davis was a huge help.
“Gary and I had a very good working relationship, and before I was sworn in, he encouraged me to come by as much as I needed,” Boyd said. “He was supportive, helped me tremendously and was a great guy.”
Gary Youngblood, Barry County presiding commissioner during Davis’ term as sheriff, said the working relationship was always a valued one.
“I really enjoyed working with Gary,” Youngblood said. “He had so much experience in the FBI, and I wish we had more funds for him when he was in office. He did the best he could with what he had to work with.
“I’ve known Gary for a long time and known his wife for a long time because we all went to First Baptist together. His experience in law enforcement was big, and even though that’s different than running a county sheriff’s office, he had a good knowledge of how things should work.”
Boyd said some of that knowledge was passed on to him.
“Gary had a vast knowledge of administration and procedure,” Boyd said. “As far as administration of the Office, he is probably one of the best. He knew his paperwork inside and out, and he had a list of deadlines on a sheet for me for times when certain things needed to be turned in. He also helped me with the budget part of things.” Boyd said Davis’ dedication to the county went on after he left office. “Gary was very supportive and if I ever had a question, even after I became sheriff, he would answer it or come up and help me. He was a great mentor.”
Boyd said with some in the office having served under Davis, the mood is somber.
“Our department took this loss pretty hard,” he said. “We want his family to know we are there for them if they need anything, because we are one big family.”
Youngblood agreed the loss of Davis is a tough one.
“We were sorry to hear it,” he said. “Gary was too young.”
Born in Monett and a 1965 graduate of Southwest High School, where he played basketball, Davis went to college at Southwest Missouri State University.
He then went on to serve 33 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, partially under J. Edgar Hoover. His work led him across the country, living in Knoxville, Tenn.; New York; Houston; El Paso, Texas; and Washington, D.C. After retiring in 2003, Davis moved back to southwest Missouri, serving as a substitute teacher at Cassville High School and being elected sheriff of Barry County in 2016.
In that election, Davis garnered 24 percent of the vote in a six-man Republican primary, then defeated a Democratic challenger in the General Election. After leaving the post in 2020, Davis continued to serve on the Barry County Fire Department and Emergency Management boards, as well as being involved in the Washburn Civic Association.
According to his obituary, “Gary was a wise man and an avid reader; he enjoyed politics and friendly discourse among his peers. Gary was also a kind man, always willing to give sound advice, or lend a hand whenever able. His was a life that truly made an impact on the world around him. Gary was a great man, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.”
Davis was married to his wife, Mary (Mitchell) Davis, in 1966, and the couple have two children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
