Lynn Davis will be missed

I was thinking of Lynn Davis and found this blog. It was uplifting to read all the wonderful comments and Ray's excellent article. I was around Lynn on many occasions and I was always so impressed with his kindness and love of life. He was a visionary, pioneer and he contributed greatly to the furniture industry. He deserves a prominent place in the Furniture Hall of Fame.

It is cerainly sad to see another Lynn Davis pass b ut it seems he leaves a lot of friends to remember him and his deeds.

My best to his family and friends.

PS My Davis Family came from Mississippi'
Lynn A. Davis

Mr. Ray, thank you for the sweet words you wrote about my brother! Sounds like you truly knew Lynn. It means so much to me to read all the great comments foam others about Lynn and the respect they had for him. Lynn was truly one in a million with a heart of gold!!! "God gives us the gift of family, and we return there again and again, for family understands where we started from and loves us for who we are."
To Lynn
I thank my God for every remembrance of you.
Phillippians 1:3

Ray, what kind words you speak. I only met Lynn once but I knew he was one of the "good guys" in our industry.
Thanks for the insight into a great person.

Ray, what kind words you speak. I only met Lynn once but I knew he was one of the "good guys" in our industry.
Thanks for the insight into a great person.

Beautifully said Ray! I try to remind myself daily that we are spiritual beings having a brief physical experience. Lynn's experience was much too brief. but I suspect he lived more than most of us in his years!

There's an old Indian proverb..."When you were born, you alone cried and all others were happy. So, live your life that when you die, you are happy and all others cry."

We are all crying w/ the loss of Lynn.

Ray, thank you for the well written article. I had the privilege of representing Lynn's company for over ten years. He was a fine person with a sterling reputation. He had a very big heart and always treated his reps with respect.I remember him starting off a meeting recently by saying "He is thankful for every thing that G-D has given him and the company". I am thankful that I had the privilege to work for such a special person. He will be sorely missed.
Avi Schoenbrun

Ray, thank you for sharing your words with all of us. Lynn was a friend of mine for over 30 years, and it seems like a flash of time.
We all take the treasure of life for granted. While attending Lynn's celebration of his life over the past weekend it appears that Lynn did not take life that way at all. He enjoyed his family to the fullest by all of the pictures that the family shared. Lynn's acts of kindest and generousity touched many people. His time however short, impacted my life as well. I will always treasure our time together, and I know Lynn is respected and loved forever.

Ray, thank you for sharing your words with all of us. Lynn was a friend of mine for over 30 years, and it seems like a flash of time.
We all take the treasure of life for granted. While attending Lynn's celebration of his life over the past weekend it appears that Lynn did not take life that way at all. He enjoyed his family to the fullest by all of the pictures that the family shared. Lynn's acts of kindest and generousity touched many people. His time however short, impacted my life as well. I will always treasure our time together, and I know Lynn is respected and loved forever.

Hearing about Lynn truly saddens me as my retirement stems from weight loss surgery that left me with an iatrogenic (physicians error in treatment) neuro chronic disease called Central Pontine Myelinolysis with disability. Knowing Lynn Davis these 30 plus years has a great deal to do with why so many of us love the industry and stay in it even well past retirement. It would be so great for myself to get back in and meet all the new up and coming Lynn Davis's out there since my exit in 2002. Yes God found it in his heart also to give me that second chance also as 50% to 75% of us with CPM will pass on within 3 to 6 months. My best to both Lynn's families, loving home and furniture industry. G-d Bless...

Franky (My Boston Terrier Neuro Service Companion) and Jeffrey (That's Me)

Ray, your letter was absolutely perfect. Thank you so much for sharing.
I just returned from, by far, the most spiritual funeral of my life. It truly was a celebration of Lynn's triumph over all of the shackles that life on earth binds us with. The strength that his family and close friends showed was truly a testimony to Lynn's walk with God over the years. The consolation was knowing, for once, that I had a friend who truly did everything he could to join the angels. And he did it unconditionally. I just wish I had had one more talk with him before he left, just like all of his friends told me in West Point. Every member of my family believed with all of their hearts that they had a unique and special relationship with Lynn-and they did. That was Lynn's gift. Lynn Davis will live on in all of us, especially his wife Tammy and their children. I hope we all continue to share "Lynn Stories" and make a scrapbook for all of us to add to. It will be a very, very long, funny, and enriching read.

Ray, although I never had the pleasure of meeting Lynn, I was very moved by your tribute and memories of him. I will keep him in my prayers.

I was on a very serious conference call with another furniture executive, when Lynn's death was injected in the conversation. The story seemed almost unbelievable and required when ending the call for me to regroup and think through the memories of my dealings with Lynn over the last thirty years. He was a man to respect and even when facing a tough decision he was always cool in the face of difficulty and would do the right thing. I am proud to say, we were friends sharing many similiar pastimes from hot trucks to spinning horses. Of course, he loved the furniture business and the people in it loved him. He was a true leader and set his own course. He'll be missed by all.

Beautifully written, Ray. My condolences to Lynn Davis's Family.

Ray, Thank you for the kind words about Lynn Davis. In reading all the responses, I have to agree with everyone about Lynn. He was a family man, businessman and a great friend whom I have had the priveledge of knowing for over 25 years..My heart and prayers go out to his family, friends and his Uncle Walter. I was blessed to have been friends with such a wonderful man and one that I will miss dearly...

Well said... Ray is a great writer, but has never written anything more poignant. Lynn certainly deserves this. Thanks Ray...

Ray, thanks so much for saying what many of us are thinking. For those of us who've lost loved ones, we know that our loss is heaven's gain. I look forward to the day we all can gather in heaven and thank God for the blessing of working In a business with folks like Lynn Davis, Ray Allegrezza, and so many more. Let's remember to love and appreciate each other while we're here on earth. Grace and Peace to all, Alan Cole, Bradington-Young/Sam Moore

Ray, you have written about one of the furniture industry giants of our generation, reminding us all what being a great person is...great in all parts of life, not just in business. Thanks for reminding all of us.

Ray--great statement. A lot of people used to say the furniture business was a business of gentlemen compared to other businesses. Lynn was the role model. What a loss for all of us.

Thank you, Ray, for giving testament to Lynn's faith and sharing the impact that he has on you, as well as so many of us. As you were "Mr. Ray", I was "Miss Sharon." My heart and prayers go out to his wife, Tammy, his children and the whole Davis family. I also want to send my condolences to his professional family, Lynn Underwood, Walter, Shelly--just a few of the legion of Lynn's close friends. Lynn's absence will be felt acutely for a long time. For Lynn himself though, I feel confident that he has found peace and in that, there is some comfort.

MR. Ray, what beautiful words to express the kindness of a man who reached out to all despite who they were and what they did. God is a marvelous friend to all, he is often taken for granted in everyday situations. Always remember he is leading our way. It's sad to hear of MR. Lynn's passing, we all are blessed by knowing such a great man.

Ray,Mr. Davis was a former employer of mine. I never have known a more kind and generous person. I thought the world of him.He will surely be missed by all that knew him. He was a southern gentleman in every since of the word. I pray for peace for his family during this time of grief.

Ray, What a thoughtful elegy to Lynn Davis. Your words serve as both a beautiful tribute to Lynn and a reminder of the goodness in man.
Fred

Ray...what sensitive and touching words. They make me miss a gentleman I didn't even know.

Ray, thank you for the beautiful tribute. I didn't know "Mr. Lynn" but it's obvious he was a wonderful man of faith. While we mourn our loss we rejoice knowing he's now sitting at God's side.

Ray, Your comments and memories of Lynn were very touching. I now wish I would have known Lynn better.

Ray, I join you in shock and sadness thinking of this industry without Lynn Davis. His ready smile, his good business sense and his friendship was a blessing and gift that I may not have appreciated, even took for granted. I remember Lynn from Market Hall days in Dallas back in the early 80s when his family's business. Astrolounger, was an exhibitor there doing big business selling lots of Mississippi upholstery. Although Lynn's life was far too short for his many friends, loved ones and admirers, I know that he was prepared. God's timing is perfect and His grace is sufficient. Thanks for providing a place to comment on a gentleman of faith and furniture. Blessings to Lynn's family. I hope that the regard in which Lynn was held will be a comfort to you.