Dr. Ted Black Davis
Ted Black Davis, 54, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on May 23, 2010.
He was born in Salt Lake City on August 23, 1955 to Byron Rigby Davis and Peggy Rae Black Davis. He was the youngest of four children including Robert (Bob) Byron, Donald Harold, and Jane Elizabeth. His childhood was spent in several different locations including Salt Lake City, Logan, Challas ID, Sparks NV, and finally American Fork Utah. He graduated from American Fork High School where he served as Senior Class President.
After high school he served a Spanish-speaking mission to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then attended Utah State University where he met his eternal sweetheart Andrea Ruth Larsen while singing with the LDS Institute’s Sounds of Zion performing group. They were married on September 14, 1979 in the Salt Lake Temple. After graduating from USU he studied medicine for two years in Guadalajara, Mexico and then received his M.D. from the Ross University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan.
He started his medical practice in Logan in 1992 specializing in family medicine. He lived in Hyde Park for 7 years before moving to North Logan in 1998. He was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, during the summer of 2003. He retired from his medical practice in the fall of 2004 right after receiving the Physician of the Year award from the Cache Valley Medical Association.
Ted was a respected and well-loved physician in the Cache Valley medical community. He cared deeply for his patients and their families and his love was reciprocated by them. He delivered over 1,200 babies during his twelve years of practice.
He cherished the summers spent working together with his family at the Pickleville Playhouse live theatre on the banks of beautiful Bear Lake in Garden City, Utah. He appeared as an actor in numerous productions and assisted in the construction of several of its buildings. He loved to watch his children on the stage and took special care of Pickleville’s nightly Western Cookout.
Ted found great joy in the simple things of life. He had a deep love and appreciation for nature and its Creator. Some of his favorite memories happened while camping, hiking, off-road motorcycling, hunting, skiing, cycling, and riding his Harley. He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in many different church callings.
He lived seven years after being diagnosed with ALS. Through the course of the disease he never once complained nor did he spend a single day in self-pity. With unearthly patience and dignity, he found ways to serve and inspire those around him while honorably loving and caring for his family. The effects of his faithful example cannot be measured.
As Ted always said, “ICBW” (it could be worse), “CYMB” (count your many blessings), “123” (I love you), “Daylight’s a wastin’,” and “Forget yourself and go to work.”
He is survived by his wife Andrea; sons T.J. (wife Erin Cartwright) and Derek; daughters Chelsea (husband J.R. Haynie), Sharli (husband Andy King), Whitney, Tyrali, and Makenzie; and mother-in-law Betty June Larsen. He was “Papa Wee” to grandchildren Carter, Tanner, Elliot, Hayden, Brooklyn, and Mckenna. He was preceded in death by his parents Byron and Peggy, father-in-law LaGrande C. Larsen, and grandchildren Lydia and Landon Haynie. He will be missed by many other family members, close friends and colleagues too numerous to name. His family wishes to express their appreciation for the overwhelming amount of support and love they have received during Ted’s disease and since his passing.
Services will be held at noon on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at the North Logan Stake Center (2750 N. 800 E. North Logan, UT). A viewing will be held before the funeral from 10-11:30am. There will also be a viewing Wednesday evening at the Allen Mortuary (420 E. 1800 N. North Logan, UT) from 6 to 8pm. Condolences can be sent to the family at
www.allenmortuaries.net
.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ted’s name to the ALS Division of the MDA of Utah 4578 S. Highland Drive, Suite 300
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 or by calling (801) 278-6200.