DAVIS, Merwyn (Mert)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, January 04, 2011 Merwyn "Mert" Davis died on Jan. 1, 2011, at his home in Prescott, Ariz. He was born Sept. 13, 1932, in Pendelton, Ind., the son of Dean W. and Amadeo (Leonard) Davis. Mert was 78 years old. Mert joined the Navy at the age of 18 at the start of the Korean Conflict. He achieved the impressive rank of first class petty officer as a radioman. Mert moved to Arizona City near Casa Grande in 1968, where he started the M.C. Davis Company to manufacture coils. Mert's secret to success was his invention of coil machines that could produce coils at a fraction of the cost of others. In 1983, Mert bought the CV Ranch and his first cowboy hat. He became a "part-time cowboy" - one of his favorite titles, along with others that his family and friends share: a pilot, a humble, good man, a philanthropist, a loving father and grandfather. In recent years, Mert was a member of the Yavapai Classic Cruisers and a collector of vintage cars. Mert is survived by his companion of 30 years, Shirley Espe; sons Curt, Kevin, Keith (Brenda) and Kenny (Patty); daughter Karen (Mark) Helin; sisters Shirley Mungai and Helen Winkler; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at the Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, 303 S. Cortez, Prescott. A funeral Mass will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 150 Fleury in Prescott. The family suggests memorials to Yavapai Food Bank, P.O. Box 4151, Prescott, AZ 86302. You are invited to log onto www.ruffnerwakelin.com to sign Mert's guestbook and share a memory with the family. Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral home assisted the family. Information provided by survivors.