William "Bill" Davis

William Davis of Berlin, MA passed away at home with his wife, Beth, at his side. He was 77 years old.

Bill was born in Boston, MA, to Charles H. and Alice L. (Roach) Davis on December 31, 1945. He grew up in Lexington and Stow, attending Nashoba Valley Technical HS. Bill’s understanding of animals, and his desire to be his own boss, led to an early career of training and driving harness horses, as well as becoming a full time horse shoer. He met and married his wife Elspeth (“Beth”) Young, who was also a horse trainer, in March of 1975.

Bill had a talent for seeing the big picture. He foresaw the diminishing number of harness horse tracks in the New England area. He wanted security for his family, so he acquired his CDL, and drove tractor trailer trucks for Benjamin Moore Paints while still shoeing horses on the weekends. After 15 years driving professionally, he retired but continued shoeing horses part-time until he was 65.

Bill was a man always willing to work hard to achieve financial security for his family. He had a talent for turning his hand at just about anything, whether it was raising and selling livestock, or cutting down trees and selling firewood. Beth remembers when they needed to make a down payment on their home, Bill just looked out his window and turned his cordwood piles and a dump truck into the money needed. He firmly believed that one should live within their means. While driving his truck, he would figure out how much additional money to put against the principal while making his mortgage payments. His goal was to pay off their house within 10 years, and he did just that.

Bill’s lifelong passion was raising and showing fancy pigeons, which he continued to do up to the day of his passing. He was responsible for bringing many people into the hobby. His legacy will continue, as his birds will be given to his fellow breeders.

Bill leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Beth Davis of Berlin, MA; his two daughters, Lisa Kelly of VT, and Kimberly Davis of West Boylston, MA; three grandchildren, Nathan and Maggie Kelly of NH, and Steven Davis of Hudson, MA; his sister-in-law Joyce Silva of Provincetown; his nephews Matt Silva of Wellfleet and Rick Silva and his wife Heather of Raynham; as well as his grand nephew Logan and niece Charlotte Silva.  Bill also leaves his sister Alice Butler of VT, and his half-sister Kendra Saurer of Marlborough, MA.

Interment services will be held privately, and by invitation from Bill’s family.