Mike Davis

Paul Michael (Mike) Davis, 79, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

Visitation will be held at 1:00 pm Monday, February 16, 2026 at Elmwood Funeral Home in Abilene, Texas. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow the visitation.

Born in Stamford, Texas on July 11, 1946, Mike was the son of Paul J. Davis and Bobbie Jean Cornelius Davis. He attended Abilene ISD schools graduating from Abilene High School in 1964. Mike graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1969.

While attending Texas Tech, Mike married Dianne Bland. They were husband, wife, and best friends for 59 years of marriage. Whenever he was asked about marrying Dianne, he simply responded, "I won first prize." Mike and Dianne raised one child, Todd, born in 1966. He taught Todd how to ride a horse and rope calves at a young age, an activity they shared the rest of Mike's life. After Todd was grown, Mike and Dianne enjoyed traveling, senior rodeos, and spending time with their granddaughters. The two were almost inseparable making it difficult to say one's name without the other. They shared countless acts of everyday kindness. When Mike left for work, he'd often leave a scratch pad note saying "I love you!" When he returned, "I love you more!" would be written in response by Dianne. Mike honking his truck horn at the end of the driveway in the morning was Dianne's wakeup alarm so she could get five more minutes of sleep. Mike celebrated winning a big calf roping several years ago by buying Dianne a nice purse with his prize money.

Mike doted on granddaughters Emilie, Caroline, and Brooke. The girls called him “Mike” and Dianne “Dee Dee.” He taught each of them how to ride a horse when they were toddlers and always had a horse just for them to ride when they visited. Their favorites were Fancy and SpongeBob. Mike and Dee Dee were the designated dog sitters for "Granddogs" Daisy, Whiskey, Piper, and Romy, all of whom they adored. The girls shared inside jokes and sayings with Mike that kept them all laughing every time they were together. Among the numerous Christmas gifts each received every year from Mike and Dee Dee, the girls always got a Jackson Bros. Feed Store horse or dog calendar, which they loved. Mike became a volleyball and fine arts expert after attending hundreds of matches, concerts, plays, and musicals. He proudly wore caps and t-shirts representing their schools for years after they attended.

Mike deeply valued his friendships. He enjoyed regular fellowship with friends he had known for decades and some he may have just met. Sharing hearty laughs while discussing football, baseball, old horses, young horses, tall horses, and short horses was the order of the day at these gatherings for coffee at Grandy's or Towne Crier and frequent meals at Joe Allen's Bar-B-Que.

Mike had a special place in his heart for the Texas Cowboy Reunion in Stamford, first roping there in 1960 and last competing there in 2025. Being held over the 4th of July and a week before his birthday, he anticipated its arrival each year like a kid his entire life. The TCR was a family affair with Mike and Todd roping, Dianne and Holly driving "the little car" in the parade, and Emilie, Caroline, and Brooke riding in the parade and grand entry. Although he thrived on the competition, he truly loved the camaraderie of gathering by the roping box, pushing a buddy's calf, or helping a fellow competitor decide if he needed to "nod and ride" or "see a shoulder."

Mike traveled much of the country as an agricultural chemical salesman in the 1970s from home bases in Hereford, TX, Garden City, KS, and Hewitt, TX. After moving to Abilene in 1981, he sold oilfield equipment for Paul Davis Pipe & Supply until his retirement.

We will miss his loving sense of humor and pretty brown eyes.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either of these organizations:

National Center for Children's Illustrated Literacy

102 Cedar Street

Abilene, Texas 79601

https://www.nccil.org/donate

Hendrick Home for Children

P. O. Box 5195

Abilene, Texas 79608-5195

https://www.hendrickhome.org/donations/

Mike is preceded in death by his wife Dianne Davis; parents Paul J. Davis and Bobbie Jean Davis; and many dear friends.

Mike is survived by son Todd and wife, Holly; grandchildren Emilie Davis, Caroline Davis, and Brooke Davis; sister Paula Simmons and husband Donny Simmons; uncle Ernie Davis and wife Sue; sister-in-law Donna Ramirez and husband, Rudy; brother-in-law Mark Bland and wife, Lana; nieces Stacey Zvokel and husband, Kevin; nephew Greg Simmons; nieces Stephanie Speer, Molly Bland Andrews and husband Kenneth, Jr.; and many grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, and dear friends.