"Follow God's example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father.  Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave Himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins."  Ephesians 5:1-2 (The Living Bible)

It is with sorrowful hearts we announce the passing of Gary Richard Davis, aged 69, of Surfside Beach, South Carolina, who died peacefully at his home on December 31, 2024.

Born on January 7, 1955, in Augusta, GA, Gary was the son of the late Thomas and Margrit Davis. After graduating from Spring Valley High School in Columbia, South Carolina, Gary volunteered for the United States Army. He graduated in 1974 from the United States Army Engineer School, earning marks "among the highest awarded a student" due to his "natural aptitude and abilities" while training in maintenance of refrigeration equipment.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army after three years of service, Gary built a career as a commercial HVAC technician, spanning an impressive four decades at Trane. He earned the admiration of colleagues for his ingenuity and unflappable disposition. He was known, both on the job and later in his retired life, for having a solution to every problem, and a tool for every solution. Gary, however, was most proud of building a reputation of trust with his customers, by treating them with genuine care and respect.

Gary’s accomplishments at Trane earned him an opportunity in 1995 to be transferred to the Myrtle Beach area, helping the company expand its service territory. It was here that Gary truly got salt in his veins, becoming a local beach bum who loved searching for sharks’ teeth, fishing the surf, and most of all, crabbing the inlet of his beloved Pawleys Island. Always by his side while combing the beach was his loving wife, Susan, and waiting for him on the dock were his: daughter, Ashley; son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Jessica; and cherished grandchildren, Abby, Jaxon, and Eli.

Gary will be most remembered for his kind, peaceful spirit, represented best by his “mint ministry” – carrying lifesaver mints in his pocket, which was his special way of making friends anywhere he went ("Want a mint?").

In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, Gary is survived by his brothers, Thomas (Karen) of Albuquerque, and Peter (Edie) of Dallas; his sister, Barbara (Steve) Smith of Orlando; and numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He is preceded in death by his brother, Carl, of Columbia.

Thompson Funeral Homes, of Columbia, is managing arrangements. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 18, at 10:30 a.m., at Greenlawn Memorial Park, located at 845 Leesburg Rd., Columbia, South Carolina (in the area between Asbury Church and the mausoleum). A memorial service in the mausoleum will immediately follow. Gary’s Gift of Life celebration will be held in Myrtle Beach on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., at Timberlake Baptist Church, where Gary formerly served as a Deacon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief fund – a cause very close to Gary’s heart. The family would also like to give their love and appreciation to all the folks who helped keep Gary alive over the years, with special thanks to: the late Dr. Philip Nicol; Dr. Catie Burbage; Dr. Ian Bostock; Caroline P. Ford, FNP-C; all of his care teams at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital; Crescent Hospice; and in his final months, his caring wife, who earned the admiration of hospital staff for her meticulous notebook containing the myriad of details about Gary’s treatment.

Gary was driven to use his experience with lung cancer to encourage others to stop smoking (he recommended generic varenicline, as opposed to Chantix), and to get annual PET scans for early detection and intervention – which he credited with giving him precious extra years with his grandchildren. We would be remiss if we did not use his memory to continue his mission.