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Charles R (C.R.) Davis, longtime Albuquerque resident, businessman, and Little Theatre icon was born on October 12, 1919 in Walters, Oklahoma. He died early Monday morning, October 13, 2003 at home with his family the day after his 84th birthday. He was the only child of Lillian Edwards and Rex Dewey Davis. Rex was a wild and free spirit whose career was varied. Lillian, daughter of an east Texas farmer, had wanderlust and moved constantly throughout the west, taking Charles with her to the extent that he was never able to complete one full school year at any one location. As a result, he vowed to raise his family in one home with two parents. Charles and his wife Jeanette built their home in Albuquerque's Nob Hill area in 1954, where they raised their family and where he lived for the rest of his life. Of the many places Charles lived in his youth, Cottonwood, Arizona was his favorite where he was elected president of his senior high school class. His mother moved him to Albuquerque in his senior year and he was unable to complete his duties as class president. He graduated from Albuquerque High in 1937 after meeting his future wife, Jeanette Burgin. They married on July 14, 1940 and celebrated their 63rd year of marriage this past July. Charles served as a corporal in Patton's Third Army from 1944 through 1945 where, fortuitously, he was pulled from the infantry at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge and transferred to the Counter Intelligence Corps because of typing skills he learned in business school. This twist of fate probably saved his life as his infantry squad suffered horrendous casualties. Charles and Jeanette had five children, Sue, was born in 1944 while he was at war; son, Jim was born in 1947 in Englewood, CA. Three more children followed all born in Albuquerque; Jon in 1952, Debbie in 1954 and Sally in 1957. While in California, Charles acquired the franchise for the first Laundromat in the country before moving to Albuquerque in 1949 where he went into the road building business. Over the next several years Charles built his paving business into a statewide company, building portions of New Mexico interstates and bridges including several of the bridges on I-25 over Central and Lomas. Always an advocate for the underdog Charles hired the first Black Caterpillar tractor operators in NM and then had to fight the local union, which did not allow black men to join and after lengthy litigation he won his case and his two black employees were the first allowed into the union in NM. He was proud of his efforts to promote equal rights among all people. In 1953 Charles and Jeanette helped fund and start the first adoption agency in Albuquerque. A later interest in politics, Charles ran for city commissioner in 1966; the same race in which Pete Domenici became a city commissioner and got his political start. Charles was a member of the Masons since 1944, active in Temple 6 of the Ballut Abyad Shrine, and a member of San Marcial #34 O.E.S. Charles' life long interest in acting began at Albuquerque High in 1937 where he was introduced to Kathryn Kennedy O'Connor, the founder of the Albuquerque Little Theatre. He and Jeanette moved to California after high school so he could study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse where he met Bernie Thomas, who later became a longtime director of the Albuquerque Little Theatre. After returning to Albuquerque in 1949, Charles performed in over 40 plays at the Little Theatre over the next 50 years, including the plays Gramercy Ghost directed by Kathryn O'Connor, Arsenic and Old Lace, Janus with Linda Darnell, Andersonville Trial, Sleuth, Catch Me If You Can, and Best Of Friends with June Lockhart. During that time he also served on the Board of Directors and was a trustee at the Albuquerque Little Theatre. His last play at the ALT was Solid Gold Cadillac in 1997 where his grandson Jason Davis acted along side him. In 1997 Charles was awarded the first Kathryn award for 50 years of outstanding service to the Albuquerque Little Theatre. Charles was a private pilot who loved to fly and owned several single and twin engine airplanes during his life. He often times landed his plane on the under construction interstate highways he built. In his later retirement years Charles became an avid urban gardener and greenhouse farmer. He was given the nickname Colonel P for his horticultural expertise by those who loved his produce. Always an innovator, Charles was ahead of his time. Charles is survived by his wife, Jeanette Davis, daughters Sue Davis, Debra Davis, Sally Cadieux, son Jon Davis, grandsons Jason Davis, Evan Davis, Steven Mattern, Andy Mattern, Patrick Cadieux, and granddaughter Renee Cadieux. He was preceded in death by his son Jim Davis in 1981. At Charles’ request there will be no memorial or service. In lieu of flowers donations can be given to the Benevolent Fund of San Marcial #34 O.E.S. in care of Ellen Weimer, secretary 11207 Morris Pl NE Albuquerque, NM 87112. His ashes will be scattered in Albuquerque and Cottonwood Az, along with those of his mother and his son Jim.
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