Davis, Bruce C.

Bruce C. Davis, 55, of North Liberty, died Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids following complications of a stroke. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 28, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Monday until 1 p.m. before to the services. 

Bruce Clayton Davis was born Oct. 13, 1955, in Suffolk, Va., the son of educators, Bertie W.H. and Fannie Colden (Raney) Davis. He graduated from high school in Gary, and came to the University of Iowa on a football scholarship where he played for the Iowa Hawkeyes as an offensive guard from 1973 through 1977. Following graduation from the university Bruce stayed in Iowa City, where he worked for Hawkeye Food Systems for 17 years before starting a career in sales with Chezik-Bell Honda. He has continued in this field until his death, working for Deery Brothers Ford as its preferred client manager. He was a natural in sales, he loved people, loved taking care of them, and his customers knew they could trust Bruce for anything!

Bruce married Eula Washpun, later divorcing. This past year he married Michelle Renee Messer. Bruce was living testimony to the saying once a Hawkeye, always a Hawkeye! He followed the Hawks from the present team to the members of the past teams who were playing in the NFL. He also enjoyed playing golf, and of course just about anything that put him smack in the middle of people! 

But most important in his life were his family; his wife and two boys were the center of his universe. Bruce was the biggest fan of his boys and their teams as they were growing up here in Iowa City. Not only was his immediate family important, all his siblings and their families, his wife's family, and distant family members all knew Bruce cared for them deeply. He loved many, and was loved by more!

His family includes his wife, Michelle; sons, Bruce Brandon Davis of Iowa City and Calvin Clayton Davis of Las Vegas, Nev.; sisters, Willie D. Boah (John) from Africa and Fannie E. Davis of Iowa City; brother, Bertie W.H. Davis III (Karen) of Gary, Ind.; nieces and nephews, Kofi Boah, Ama Boah, Bertie W.H. Davis VI, Britney Davis, Alonzo Cunningham, Jeffrey Davis (Sabina), Shanice Burks and Gavin Luze; great-nephews, Brenden Davis and Elijah Davis; aunt and uncle, Ione and Everett Raney of Silver Springs, Md.; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dave and Jackie Messer of Knoxville, Tenn.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Alicia Messer and Dave Luze of North Liberty; and a host of other family and friends.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Gwendolyn Davis.

Bruce's family would like to thank the staff, doctors and nurses of the 6th floor rehab center at St. Luke's for its care of Bruce; he would call all of you his second family. His family cannot thank you enough for all you did for him and them during these past months. We will always remember you!

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his memory. 

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web at