Martha Laverne Davis

Martha “Marty” Laverne Leader Davis passed from this world January 18, 2021. She passed peacefully and comfortably at her home near New Braunfels, Texas. All her children, sons Douglas, Howard, and Dwight, were present and providing care. Marty was 88, born September 19, 1932, in Hancock County, Ohio, to Mettie McDougal Leader and Theodore Lawrence Leader while they were out of state; she was a lifelong Texan. She attended schools in Bastrop County, Texas, and graduated from Elgin High School, participating on basketball and softball varsity teams. She later attended Nixon-Clay College and the University of Texas-Austin. In 1951, she married William Donald Athas, an Airman stationed at Bergstrom AFB, and moved to his home state, California. However, she returned to Texas for the births of each of her sons, and eventually divorced. She moved with her mother and sons from Elgin to Sanderson, Texas, in 1956. There she met Carl Davis, a Highway Patrolman serving in his first assignment, and they wed in 1961. Carl was stationed in a number of towns over the ensuing years, including Seminole where their youngest son, Dwight, was born. Marty and Carl moved to New Braunfels in 1967. Even though Carl was stationed in Victoria part of that time, New Braunfels was their chosen home. Marty is preceded in death by her husband, Carl Leon Davis (63), US Marine, Texas State Trooper, and Comal County Deputy Sheriff. She was also preceded by her brothers, Lyman David Leader (17) and Charles Ellis Leader (63), and her sister, Mary Alice Leader Glover (71). Surviving Marty are her sons and their spouses, William Douglas Athas and Robyn Newton Athas of Garland, Howard Keith Athas and Subrina Rose Athas of New Braunfels, and Carl Dwight Davis of New Braunfels, and by two grandchildren, Kori Rose Athas of New Braunfels and William Shae Athas of Garland. She is also survived by numerous nephews, their spouses, and their children and grandchildren. Of her family through Carl, she is survived by his brother and wife, Leland Burdette Davis and Sandra Womack Davis of Odessa, his sister, Mary Annis Davis Young of Crane, and by their children and grandchildren. Martha will rest next to Carl at Pleasant Grove Cemetery near Elgin, Texas. Services and interment will be delayed until a date when arrangements for family and friends can be conducted safely. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Martha Davis’s name to Leukemia research, as she did for many years.