Harold F. Davis Obituary (1933 - 2024)

Harold Franklin Davis, 90, passed Friday, March 29, 2024, in Odell, Illinois at home surrounded by his wife Bonnie and loving family. His funeral will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Pontiac Bible Church. A visitation will be held the night prior, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. also at the Pontiac Bible Church. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery in Odell. Pastor Jarrod Bartholomew will be officiating. Memorials may be made in Harold’s memory to the donor’s charity choice. Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, three older sisters (Mildred, Dorothy and Mary) and daughter Carolyn, niece Jan and nephew Terry. He is survived by his wife of nearly sixty-eight years Bonnie and children Barbara D’Alessandro and husband Joe, Jim and Bonnie (Pratt) Davis, Ron and Amy (Fry) Davis, and Judy Huff and husband Doug. Grandchildren include Matt Davis, Amy Davis, Giancarlo D’Alessandro and wife Savannah, Brian Davis and fiancé Michelle Cummings, Eric Davis, Abby White, Max White, Maya Padilla as well as many loving in-laws, nieces and nephews. Son of Frank and Ola Hakes Davis, he was born June 7, 1933 in Pontiac, IL. He graduated from Saunemin High School in 1951. Harold was the mischievous youngest in the farming family with three older sisters who he loved to tease. Harold was an entrepreneur at an early age. He was active in 4-H, receiving many awards. He learned how to shear sheep for his 4-H project and started a sheep shearing business in high school. As a senior in high school, he received permission from his teachers to miss school so he could shear. One could see his hard-working and ambitious spirit develop during this time. Harold met his future wife Bonnie (Muir) while involved in 4-H events and they would often go roller skating on dates. He entered the Army in 1952 and was stationed in Japan for two years with the military police. Harold and Bonnie committed to each other before he left and there was much letter writing back and forth. He returned and they married in 1956 at the Odell Congregational church. In their early married life, Harold held several jobs while growing his shearing and wool buying business. He was supported by wife Bonnie in their business, purchasing a home with farmland in 1959 and continuing to increase their acreage through the years. While we lost a beloved father and grandfather, many lost a dear friend. Harold developed deep friendships through serving as a church Elder, Deacon, Sunday School teacher, 4-H Fair Sheep Superintendent, member of the Lamb and Wool Board and leading a 4-H club and shearing schools. Over sixty plus years, he sheared an estimated 900,000 sheep with clients becoming friends. Harold made wonderful contributions with his shearing demonstrations to the Lincoln Park Zoo and many festivals - always accompanied by Bonnie. Harold lived life to the fullest and some could say he had nine lives. From an accident with a hay fork when he was young to a collision with a speeding train to falling off twelve feet from a combine and then later falling from a tractor, he made it to over ninety years old. He and Bonnie both enjoyed traveling within the US and internationally in Norway, Switzerland, Scotland, Brazil and many other countries. Harold fondly recalled being able to shear in the Royal Show in Australia and New Zealand and attending the Golden Shears. Think of it as the Super Bowl of sheep shearing! And anyone that knew Harold, knew one of his favorite sayings. “Every adversity carries with it a seed of equal or greater equivalence”. He displayed his Christian faith through his daily life and many kindnesses and contributions to others. We are thankful he is now on his greatest journey. This obituary may be viewed and a guestbook signed at www.duffyfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.