Lester Ivan Davis was born on the family ranch on August 24th, 1924. He was the third child of Lester James (L. J. or Milo) and Audrey Odessa (Dessie) Davis. His sister Audrey and brothers, Marvin and Lee all grew up on the ranch along Ten Sleep Creek. Although Pat never married his extended family was dear to him. Pat lived on the ranch all his life, except for one semester at college.

He was a cowboy who was an expert horseman and enjoyed breaking horses. He spent a lot of time on his own at the cow camps. He enjoyed the great outdoors and loved his career. He was a lifetime cowboy.

He was a avid reader and enjoyed continually learning.

He kept track of all the members of the family and what they were doing. He was devoted to his mother. We all remember his stories and will miss his chuckle.

Dear Pat,

You shall always rest in peace. Hopefully you know that the entire family loves you. You are a wonderful man. I know you are in heaven with God. Know that we will always love you!!!

Amen Elisha Smith (great (great niece 10 years old) SOURCE: Funeral Memorial Card

Ivan "Pat" Davis, Obituary, Northern Wyoming Daily News, Worland, Wyoming, June 16, 2009, page 2.

TEN SLEEP --- Longtime Ten Sleep resident Lester Ivan "Pat" Davis, 84, died on Saturday evening June 13, 2009 at Worland Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center.

"Pat" was born on Aug. 24, 1924 on the family ranch three miles east of Ten Sleep, a son of Lester James "Smilo" and Audrey Odessa "Dessie" (Knisely) Davis. He was raised on the ranch and attended schools in Ten Sleep.

He graduated from Ten Sleep High School as the Valedictorian with the Clas of 1942. Pat then attended the University of Wyoming for a short time where he was going to major in engineering, but due to World War II he returned to the ranch to help raise livestock. He remained on the ranch until failing health forced him to go into the nursing home in 2001.

He was a cowboy who was an expert horseman and enjoyed breaking horses.

Pat's favorite pastime was music, and he loved to play songs in the bunkhouse and at cow camps in his guitar. He also enjoyed playing the mandolin and the violin. His hobby was tooling and making engraved leather goods and reading.

He belonged to the Methodist Church in Ten Sleep, and while he did not attend church on a regular basis, he read the Bible frequently and was well versed in it.

Pat was a member and a Past Master of the Ten Sleep Masonic Lodge.

He belonged to Masonic Royal Arch Council, the Knights Templar, and the Kalif Shrine Temple in Sheridan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a Brother-in-law Joe Bailey, Sr., a niece Marva Peterson and a nephew Joe Bailey, Jr.

Pat is survived by his brothers Marvin (Dorothy) Davis and Lee (Peggy) Davis all of Ten Sleep, his sister Audrey Bailey of Cheyenne, his nieces Sheila (Don) Beydler and Shirley (Ron) Beydler all of Spokane, Wash., Patty (Bill) Smith and Sheri Leroy Morris all of Cody and Nancy (Don) Riley of Basin, his nephews Chad Davis of Cody and Brad Bailey of Cheyenne and a host of great-nieces and great-nephews.

The funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 18 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Ten Sleep with the Reverend Grover Briggs officiating. Burial will follow in the Ten Sleep Cemetery. The casket will be open at the church from noon until service time on Thursday.

Veile Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.