Troy J Davis

Troy J. Davis (1966-2024) Life's journey ended at home Thursday September 5, 2024 surrounded by his wife Jill, family and friends. He never gave up on fighting the violent and aggressive battle against his Glioblastoma. Troy described it as blueberries in a blueberry muffin. Troy was born in Murray, UT on July 10, 1966 to Don E. and Melba Davis. Growing up in South Jordan, UT Troy was adored and doted on by his sisters Nanette and Kathy. They were so proud to be his sisters, they would swing him for hours. It is said “He may have been spoiled by those two”. He loved to rock in his rocker and eat his cereal while watching tv. Troy loved horses and his dog. Later on, he learned that he loved horses a whole lot more when his dad did all the work. He played the accordion for many years starting at a young age. Troy played more so to appease his mom. His wife Jill, funny enough, played accordion with him but gave it up. She always remembered the blonde hair, blue eyed boy that never smiled. As a young boy he went hunting with his family. He loved riding his sister Nanette’s horse named Chetski and Kathy’s horse. He loved the peach tree his mom and dad had in the front yard. It made a mess, but those fresh peaches tasted so good. In June 1983 Troy saw Jill at a Bonneville Motocross Race and searched for her using a friend to help connect them. Troy and Jill then dated for four years. During this time Troy joined the Army Reserve in 1984, completed basic training and returned in November 1984. Troy as he would say as a young twenty-year-old, ended the relationship with Jill to move on to another. Following the next relationship, it took him back to Tennessee/Kentucky. Troy always talked of Kentucky, he loved the land of 4 acres he had and the barn he had spent so much time building. The barn housed a couple horses and that's when he realized they were fun, but hard work. He also told us all about the pond on his land that he would catch catfish out of. Troy also drove “Truck” as he would call it and drove for Conway for sixteen years. After several years and regrets he left Kentucky and came back to Utah in 2010. When he returned he tried to rekindle his relationships with his brother Rick and his sister Carma. He spent time with Rick down in Duchesne on Rick’s property. Troy and Rick spent hours trying to get a fence in, hammering into sandstone, chiseling, picking and jack hammering each post into the ground. The fence was going to hold in Rick’s mustangs. Troy and Rick worked to rebuild their relationship until Rick passed. Troy also started the search once again for Jill. In 2011 the search ended or we like to think it began, he found Jill again. Troy made amends and apologized for leaving her. They rekindled their relationship and Troy gained a new loving family that accepted him with open arms. He brought the game of cornhole back and shared his love for the game with family and friends. Troy knew how to put the cornhole boards together and we all have a special set we made with him. Both Troy and Jill decided to go back to school. Troy went for graphic design and enjoyed being creative. Troy sprung a big surprise on December 24, 2020 asking her to marry him and the grandkids all told Jill to say yes. They were married June 25, 2021 in New Meadows, Idaho on his sister’s property by a beautiful river surrounded by trees of all kinds. Troy loved sarcasm. Troy and Jill’s relationship was all about snarky, witty comments and bickering. That was their love language to each other. It made them both laugh to see what the next one could come up with. The newest one he always said was “It's not Jill construction” basically we can't make it that quick. And “If you think about it you can come up with this answer on your own”. Troy said “Jill knows just ask her, we have to make it her idea”. Troy’s love for Jill was so unconditional, she is all he wanted by his side, he always wanted to call her and know when she was going to be home. Troy had joys and rocks were one of those. He would find rocks out Rzr riding and have to bring them home and add them to the yard. He brought endless loads to the ditch in their yard. Going Rzr or side by side riding was one of his favorite things because he could see the backcountry. Troy loved to get out and ride to see “beautiful places”. He also enjoyed woodworking, he could create anything you could come up with. His dream was to have his big garage as a woodshop and his shed a man cave to enjoy all of his wood tools. He would craft with the girls and drew the faces on all the wood creations Jill would come up with. Besides Jill, Troy just wanted to watch the grandkids grow up, it was a joy for him to have them around. He would say he was the world's worst babysitter, he told the grandkids he had a hook for each of them to hang them on. Troy would say “Grandkids welcome and the parents had to go home”. He would tease them and they loved every minute of it. He’d tickle them when they were in a mood and tell them he needed to get the meanies out then they'd laugh. He gave each of them nicknames and that's what he called them. Ella’s “The Tall One”, he’d let her order anything from Temu or Amazon and he taught her how to woodwork and stain. Owen’s “GGG-Goat”, he loved watching him race and he was the fire helper out back. Lucy’s “Cool Whip”, she was his home-body buddy, and would call him “my boy”. Paisley’s “Peanut-Brittle”, he loved to be the first to get her out of bed then he'd be her person for the day and loved chasing her around the kitchen island. He’d ask have you seen one of these (a hand) “apparently not” and palm to the forehead with laughs to follow. Donuts were also a big thing, the kids came and up to Walmart he went to get donuts. Troy’s diagnosis didn’t stop him from teasing them and giving them a good laugh. 

After Troy’s diagnosis, he and his sister Kathy would go on walks together by phone. Kathy would call him whether it was sun, rain, or snow. He would always go whether he hated it or not. The conversations they had would always bring Troy hope and lift him up. As a truck driver he had a love for gas station food, but not any, it had to be Maverik burritos and bundles. He loved the monster coffee drinks, and when they would go up to the Cancer Center they’d eat breakfast. As Troy’s mobility declined it would be a quick sausage egg and cheese biscuit from Mcdonalds. One morning he told Jill “I don't want one of the sausage egg and cheese biscuits, they’re not very good” low and behold he didn't realize that Jill made that one. He loved his maple bars, ice cream, apple pie, and eclairs. We won't forget the Christmas candy making, volun-telling him to dress up for halloween, pumpkin carving, and making gingerbread houses. He also can’t miss the meeting and be volun-told to do something. He sure enjoyed the Wheadon gals bringing their golf cart to get drinks and shuttle him around the block. They would also bring him his favorite treats. Troy thought highly of them and always asked for their strength to come and help him. Troy asked for Jill all the time, he wanted her to be right by his side and loved holding her hand. In the last moments he asked Jill to come sit by him and be close because his mom was going to come and get him. Jill stayed right by his side and hand in hand they held one another.

Troy leaves behind: his wife Jill Davis, his children KayDee (Kade) Carter, Megan (Paul) Howard, grandkids Ella Carter “The Tall One”, Owen Carter “GGG-Goat”, Lucy Carter “Cool Whip”, and Paisley Howard “Peanut Brittle” and his sisters Nanette (Mark) Bunker, Kathy Mckee and of course his pets Annie, Jaxson, Kevin, chickens and ducks. Troy was preceded in death by: His parents Don and Melba Davis, and his brother Rick Davis.

The Celebration of Life for Troy Davis will be held on Saturday September 28th, 2024 at Troy and Jill’s, 10196 South 2950 West South Jordan at 2:00pm. There will be an honor guard ceremony at 2:30pm sharp along with a bagpiper. There will be a luncheon of Troy’s favorites.

We want to thank the Wheadons for all of the joy they brought to Troy and all of the late night runs, treats, time, and support. Thanks to Enhabit for all that they did to comfort Troy and the family. Troy sure loved the nurses, aides, chaplin, PT, and OT that came out, you all made him feel safe. We want to thank Amy and Heidi for all that they have done to support Jill and Troy. A huge thanks to all of you, all of the family and friends that have supported Troy, Jill and the family at this time. We can’t thank you enough. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help medical expenses or to glioblastoma research: https://www.gbmresearch.org/donate