Gilbert Lee Davis

Funeral Service for Gilbert Lee Davis, 74 of Sallisaw, Oklahoma will be at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at Agent Mallory Martin Chapel in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Burial will follow at Sallisaw City Cemetery in Sallisaw, Oklahoma under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.

He was born on October 14, 1947 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma to Dollie Marie (Borin) Davis and Norman Hobert Davis and passed away on October 27, 2021 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Gilbert was probably the person most responsible for the first Special Education Class in Sallisaw Schools. Crippled from birth, he wanted to go to school but there was no place in the school for handicapped children. Before his sixth birthday, his father, Hobert talked to Supt. G.R. Hurd about a special class for Gilbert and other handicapped children. Mr. Hurd worked hard to find the money and a teacher. In 1953, he hired Mrs. Irene Phillips to teach the children. A room was fixed up in an old army barracks that was located just east of the 1920 Sallisaw Liberty Grade School. At first there were only 5 students, but the number soon grew. By 1967 there were special education classes throughout the whole school.

Gilbert was baptized at age 10 and was a member of Eastside Baptist Church.

Survivors are:

2 brothers: Paul Davis and Jessie of Sallisaw, OK and Carl Davis of Sallisaw, OK;

numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hobert and Dollie Davis; brother, Norman and sister, Leta Pauline.

Active Pallbearers will be his nephews.

Viewing will be 10 am – 6 pm Saturday, 2 – 8 pm Sunday and 10 am – 8 pm Monday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw.