Charles Lawin (“Dave”, “Shorty”) Davenport, age 84, passed from this life on Thursday, April 20th, at Woodbury Health & Rehab, after a brief illness.  He was a native and lifelong resident of Woodbury, and a member of the Woodbury Church of Christ.

Mr. Davenport was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Ruby and Ervin Merriman; his father, Ruby Lawin Davenport; and his wife of 67 years, Rebecca Mooneyham Davenport.

He is survived by his children, Glenda (Bobby) Vance, of Bradyville, and Doug (Dana) Davenport, of Great Falls, Montana; grandchildren, Mark (Stephanie) and Michael (April) Vance of Bradyville, Erin Davenport of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Samantha Davenport of Great Falls, Montana; greatgrandchildren, Reese, Ryder, Renley, and Makenzie Vance, and Dean Davenport.  Charles is also survived by his siblings, Martha (Ken) Baird, of Madison; Robert Kenneth (Naomi) Merriman, of Milton, Florida; Billy Joe (Joyce) Merriman, of Bettendorf, Iowa; and Jim (Carolyn) Merriman, of Memphis, Tennessee; sisters-in-law, Betty (Ralph) Reed, Annie Bosworth, and Lovie Phillips, all of Woodbury; and brother-in-law, Roy Mooneyham, of Woodbury.  Mr. Davenport also leaves behind dear friends, Forrest Pitcock, and Willie Miller, of Woodbury.

Charles was born and raised in the Pleasant View Community.  He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he served in the Korean War.  He made a career as a truck driver, working first for Rock City Box Company, then for Tennessee-Carolina Transportation, from which he retired.  Afterward, he began a whole new career doing what he really loved – selling cars.  Mr. Davenport opened Dave’s Auto Sales in 1983.  He and his daughter ran the successful business for many years.  It truly became “the family business”, as his oldest grandson Mark grew up and learned from his Pa, becoming his co-worker when he was 16.   They enjoyed working side by side for years, and later, his other grandson Michael joined them in the car business.

Pa, as he was known to his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, had many friends throughout the years; however, many of his good buddies, such as Dude Northcutt, Jesse Pelham, Adam Todd, and McBride Cooper passed on before him.  Pa was a “regular” at the Senior Citizen’s Center, where he exercised and had lunch every day, before heading to the car lot.  Even in his retirement, he still enjoyed helping with the business he began many years ago.

Funeral services will be 2 PM Monday, April 24, 2017 in the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home with Bro. Daniel Hayes officiating.  Interment will follow at Riverside Gardens Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 2 PM to 8 PM Sunday, April 23, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cannon County Senior Citizens Center or Short Mountain Bible Camp.

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