Connie Davis

Connie Davis; loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister; skilled teacher; and committed social worker passed away on May 8, 2025, at home with her husband John by her side.

Constance Gayle Billinger Davis was born in Darnall Army Hospital at Fort Hood, Texas, on December 20, 1954. She graduated from Killeen High School in 1972 and went on to Baylor University in Waco, graduating in 1975 with a degree in psychology. She married John Norman Davis on April 24, 1976, in Killeen. She later completed a master’s degree in education from Southwest Texas State University and a master’s degree in counseling from East Texas State University.

Connie spent much of her adult life as an advocate for women and children in her various professional positions. In Paris, Texas, she was named director of the newly rejuvenated YWCA, and she instituted many programs there, including girls’ softball and other girls’ sports and rebuilt an annual art fair that brought lots of talent and visitors to Paris.

While in Paris she then began working for Texas Child Protective Services, working her way up to Supervisor and Program Director in Lubbock, and capping her 25+ year career as Program Administrator in Abilene. Connie considered her work with and for children to be a calling from God.

As a vibrant Christian Connie believed that her faith should be reflected in all that she did. She married, raised a family committed to Christ, chose a career to help those who could not help themselves, and served as an active member in her local church, wherever she lived. As her primary hobby, she was an avid reader of fiction.

Connie was preceded in death by her father, Major (Ret) Elmer Billinger.

She is survived by her husband, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) John N. Davis; her son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Morgan Davis; her daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Andrew Klooster; her brother Jeffrey Billinger; her sister Kathy Renz; her mother Vera Billinger; and her grandchildren Grady, Ellis, and Layne Davis and Elizabeth and Daniel Klooster.

Memorials may be given to the Foster Care and Adoption Ministry at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S Pioneer Drive, Abilene, Texas 79605.

There are far too many people who have helped and supported the Davis family in our time of bereavement for us to name their names. Special thanks go to the members of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church who, in our time of need, have been the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to us.

Visitation will be 6 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 16, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S Pioneer Drive in Abilene with Dr. Jeff Reid officiating.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Evergreen Cemetery in Paris.