Heywood Hodder DavisSeptember 17, 1931 - December 7, 2024
Prairie Village, Kansas - Heywood Hodder Davis ("Woody") was born on September 17, 1931 in Kansas City, Missouri and died on December 7, 2024. Woody was the son of Margaret Hodder Davis and Donald Dwight Davis, and the "kid brother" of beloved sister Peggy. He attended Bryant Elementary School and graduated from Southwest High School in 1948. He attended the University of Kansas where he was active in debate and his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta (President). Following graduation in 1952 with a BA in History and on completion of officer candidate school, Woody was commissioned into the Navy as an ensign. Woody married his college sweetheart, Louise Abigail Swigart, on October 31,1952. Louise joined Woody during his assignment in Guam, and they subsequently lived in San Diego and Long Beach, where Woody served on an attack transport ship. Woody returned to KU for Law School from 1955 to 1958 where he was Order of the Coif and Editor of the Law Review. Woody had the honor of being a law clerk for US Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Whittaker in Washington, DC from 1958 to 1959.
Upon returning to Kansas City, Woody was an associate and then partner with the law firm Dietrich, Tyler, Davis, Burrell & Dicus, whose successors merged with Armstrong Teasdale in 1981. In 1991, Woody and colleagues formed the firm which became Davis, Sands & Collins, P.C., where Woody remained until his official retirement at the age of 90. Woody was a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, the Lawyers Association of Kansas City (former President and Whittaker Award recipient), the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the Estate Planning Society of Kansas City (former President), and he was a founding trustee of what is now Legal Aid of Western Missouri (former President). He also served on the boards of the Ozanam Home and Foundation (former President) and The Barstow School (former President). A proud member of Downtown Rotary Club 13 since 1985 (former President), Woody was also a Club 13 Camp Foundation Fellow and Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. He was a longtime member of the Mercury Club (former President). In 2010, Woody received the Honorary Alumnus Citation from Park University, which Woody and his law firm long served as outside counsel. In 2017, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from KU Law School. Woody was a lifelong member of Second Presbyterian Church (former Elder) and a member of Mission Hills Country Club (former President).
Woody, Louise, and his three children, Tom, Carol, and Lynne, enjoyed vacationing in Colorado and Arizona. While on vacation and at home, Woody loved to play golf and tennis with good friends, as well as attend cultural events. Woody and Louise also traveled abroad extensively to: Japan and Hong Kong during Navy years; most of Western Europe; and Russia and Argentina for Rotary.
Woody was a steadfast friend who cherished many close professional and personal relationships. Beyond his hobbies and sense of adventure, Woody often entertained his family and friends with stories and limericks, and he played the guitar or ukulele while singing campfire songs. Most of all, Woody was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He was a source of strength, happy to cheer on his family members in all their endeavors, not to mention the Jayhawks, Royals and Chiefs. He will forever be remembered for his outgoing, cheerful nature and keen sense of humor.
Woody was preceded in death by his wife Louise of almost 70 years, sister Peggy Brownlee, son-in-law Kevin Boyle, and niece Karen Brownlee.
Woody is survived by his son Tom Davis (Peggy Huycke) of Kansas City, Missouri; daughters Carol Krueger (of Edwards, Colorado) and Lynne Boyle (of Alexandria, Virginia); his grandchildren Mitchell Davis (Sanjana Patel), Noah Davis (Andie Drummond), Claire Krueger, Davis Krueger, Cecily Boyle and Brennan Boyle; and his beloved nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church in the Spring of 2025. Contributions may be made to Second Presbyterian Church, 315 E. 55th St., KCMO, 64113; KU Endowment Association for the Law School, PO Box 928, Lawrence, KS 62044-0928; or Rotary International Foundation, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201-3698.
