Gale Edward Davis, 74 went to be with the Lord on May 4, 2025. He passed peacefully in his sleep at home, in St. Louis. Gale was born in St. Louis on November 21, 1950, the son of Manuel (who went by Ray) and Emma (Holstein) Davis.
Gale graduated in 1968 from Hancock High School in Lemay, Missouri. He went on to have a successful career by taking classes while he worked. Although he wouldn’t admit it, he was quite intelligent. Learning came quite easy for him and his love of learning never ended. He spent his career with the companies Merrill Lynch and Edward Jones. Outside of work and while growing up Gale developed a love of both listening to and playing the guitar. Gale played guitar with friends and for years was a member of the band “Family Reunion”. Gale played the guitar for Sara to bring her comfort and show her his unwavering love. In his later years he played almost daily to perhaps help him recall his most cherished memories. What a gift he had for making beautiful music with the use of his skilled hands and one of his many guitars.
On Friday, September 13, 2002 Gale married the love of his life, Sara Schramm Davis. Sara passed away on September 29, 2011 after suffering from leukemia and years of intractable chronic pain. Gale knew God kept him here, on this Earth for a purpose. Only in God’s perfect timing would he be called home to God’s Heavenly Kingdom to be reunited with Sara and loved ones who had passed before him. He spoke of Heaven, a paradise more beautiful than we could imagine, a place of everlasting joy, peace and rest.
Gale was a soft-spoken man, a man of faith and a thinker. He enjoyed learning, thinking, pondering if you will, the meaning of oh so many things. He loved to read and scattered in his home you could always find another new pen or pencil and a new notebook. The first page or two were written on, with thoughts he wanted to recall or something someone said that he wanted to take time to think about. Most who crossed Gale’s path found he had a dry sense of humor and if you weren’t quick you may even miss one of his “wise cracks”. Gale didn’t miss what you had to say though, he was always listening. He would often come back to comments or stories he’d heard or memories of experiences he’d had, after having thought them through. He enjoyed time spent with loved ones, studying the Bible and listening to great music. Over the course of his life Gale lived in St. Louis, Missouri, Wheaton, Illinois, Richardson Texas, New Bloomfield, Missouri and Goldfield, Iowa but most of his life was spent in St. Louis, Missouri. While living in New Bloomfield, he was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fulton. It was also during this time that he and Sara had two “girls”, Charlotte and Samantha, their beloved four-legged Dachshunds. The “girls” brought them both great joy, with a little mischief too. The “girls” passed away some time ago now, never to be replaced because Gale just thought they were irreplaceable.
Gale is irreplaceable too. Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter Shannon and husband Kelly Leist of Rowan, Iowa; daughter Amanda (Tony) Spina of St. Louis, Missouri and daughter Emily Davis of Boulder, Colorado. Sara’s sons, Christopher Cronin and Bryant Cronin and family. His grandchildren, Hannah (Nick) Willwerth (Iowa), Zackery (Leslie) Leist (Iowa), Aniella Spina(Missouri) and Gino Spina (Missouri) and two great granddaughters, Ellietta Willwerth (Iowa) and Lucy Willwerth (Iowa). He is survived by his sister, Darlene Bangerter of St. Louis. He is survived by his niece, Wende (Greg) Reiter, and their daughters, Megan (Jake) Gazall and Nicole Reiter.
Gale was preceded in death by his parents Manuel and Emma (Holstein) Davis. As well as his older brother Raymond Davis, who gave the ultimate sacrifice of his life at age 19 in Vietnam, brother-in-law, Fred Bangerter and the love of his life, Sara Schramm Davis. Although those of us left to cherish our memories of Gale miss him dearly, we are at peace knowing his faith and trust in the Lord was steadfast. We know he is amongst the angels and we find peace in knowing it was his time.
A memorial service will be held at a later date this June.