Travis Hoyle Davis, age 98, died Thursday, March 30, 2017 at Carolina Care Center in Cherryville after a brief illness. For the previous 7 years, he resided with his son, Phil and daughter-in-law, Sally Davis at their home in Stanley.

Hoyle was born in Cherokee County, SC on September 9, 1918 to the late Fred Xenophon and Mary Sparks Davis of Chesnee, SC. Hoyle enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on October 9, 1941 in Fort Bragg serving in the Signal Corps in Panama during WWII. After serving his country he worked for Shelby Public Schools in the maintenance department as a carpenter.

Hoyle married Blanche Whitaker on November 23, 1945. They joined First Baptist Church on March 6, 1947 and remained faithful members there for 70 years. In the 1960's Mr. Davis went to work for the U.S. Post Office as a Letter Carrier and also as a State Farm Agent until his retirement, always serving others with a smile. Until his recent illness, Mr. Davis was quick to recall names and addresses of those patrons from his postal route or insurance business, and welcomed the opportunity to share entertaining stories from his life and times.

As a young man, Mr. Davis had a love for sports, particularly baseball. During his senior year of high school, he played locally for the Cleveland County American Legion team. Cleveland County Sports Hall of Fame American Legion coach, B.E. "Pop" Simmons, described Hoyle as, "the best center fielder I ever had. He could run like a jackrabbit!"

In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by his sister Marian Davis Packard; and his four brothers: Leonard, Ken, Fred Lynn, and Tom Davis.

Hoyle is survived by his son, Phil Travis Davis and his wife Sally of Stanley; three brothers, Russell Davis of Shelby, Frank Davis of Moreno Valley, CA, and Mack Davis of Gaffney, SC; a sister Nancy Reynolds of Concord; and one grandchild, Cara and husband Mark Woodruff of Durham.

Funeral Service will be held at 2:00pm Tuesday, April 4, 2017 in Webb Chapel of First Baptist Church of Shelby with Rev. Perry Holleman officiating. Interment will follow in Cleveland Memorial Park. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mr. Davis.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com