Christopher Joseph Davis, 64, of Overland Park, KS, passed away Monday, March 29, 2021, following a fierce battle with Covid pneumonia. The visitation beginning with the rosary will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 5, 2021 at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia Street, Lenexa, KS. A celebration of Chris’ life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, at the Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St., Overland Park, KS. Burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to the Al Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City.
Chris was born June 22, 1956, in Kansas City, MO. He was the youngest son of Coach Al and Arlene Davis and grew up in a loving home with his six siblings. Their parents instilled in them enduring values of compassion, integrity, and faith, giving them a strong work ethic. He was excited to attend Rockhurst High School where his dad, the legendary Coach Al Davis, taught and coached football, track, and golf for 38 years winning many championships and accolades. Chris played football for 4 years, he played center on the team in their bid for a second state championship his senior year, graduating in 1974. He went on to Kansas State University, receiving his degree in Agricultural Economics in 1978. He was a wildcat through and through. While in college he farmed his grandma Rose’s land south of Abilene, Kansas, never knowing the definition of the word “idle”. He married and had his first son Jeff while still in college. After college, he went to work for Farmers Home Administration helping countless farmers across Kansas provide food for the rest of the country while continuing to hone his business skills. He was the youngest FHA supervisor in the state of Kansas. After having two more children, Ryan and Lindsay, he founded his first company working with screen printing and clothing sales in 1981. In 1983 he founded his second company, ACI International, which proudly supplied athletic apparel for the Atlanta Olympics. Chris founded many businesses overseas including Satria Headwear in Bandung Indonesia which created over 300 jobs in the local community. While building the companies he welcomed his two youngest children to the world, Kyle and Annie. Chris founded Winning Streak Sports in 1998, making sport souvenirs on a quality scale never seen before. Chris then founded MorLuv Scrubs in 2009, with a mission of providing specially designed nursing scrubs that greatly increased the safety for medical professionals across the nation. He founded his next company LAD Medical, in his father’s memory, to expand the mission of medical product safety innovation into new realms. The pattern was obvious from the very beginning all the way to the end: Chris was driven his entire life by a deep rooted compassion to help as many people as he could in his life, especially those in need. Charity and philanthropy were not second thoughts in his businesses, they were guiding principles.
Chris’ greatest love was his family. From the time he was a little boy, he loved to do things for the family. He always had a project, and he could figure out how to do anything, build anything, or fix anything. He taught his five children how to work hard and care for each other. He drove the same van for nearly 20 years because he joyfully gave what he had to his kids and helping others. He was happiest when spending time with his fourteen grandchildren. He loved attending all their ball games, taking them to school, singing with them, taking them fishing, taking them for rides in his boat or on his John Deere riding mower, or just holding the babies. He was immensely proud of his children and grandkids; they are his legacy. He was always happy to help anyone in need and would give the shirt off his back if it would be a comfort. He received many accolades, but he said his proudest was being the first recipient of the USF College of Nursing Alumni and Friends Service Award in 2013 for his outstanding support in the development of the College’s mission.
He will be remembered as a loving, giving, and hardworking father and grandfather who would read the bible on Christmas Eve and then stand up with all the kids to sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, complete with choreography. He will be missed by many.
He was preceded in death by his father Lynn Alton Davis Jr., his mother Arlene Haslouer, his brother Lynn Alton Davis III, his sister Sara Lodigensky Holliday, his nephew Tommy Lodigensky, and his nephew Ben Davis. Chris is survived by his children Jeffrey (Christy) Davis, Ryan (Rae Chelle) Davis, Lindsay (Justin) Gore, Kyle Davis, and Annie (Jonathan) Mitchell. As his children grew and started families of their own, Chris found his true passion: his grandchildren. He was the most devoted and loving Grandfather that any grandchild could ask for: Tristan Lynn, Carson, Mya Rose, Christopher Alton, Mila, Ariella, Colin Jeffrey, Johanna, Leila, Michael Ryan, Lennart, Lois, Silas, and Asher Joseph. He is survived by his siblings Maureen Davis, Mike (Joyce) Davis, Jenny (Bruce) Gibb, Julie (Steve) Luttman, 15 nieces and nephews and 10 great nieces and nephews. He was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Basehor and Church of the Ascension in Overland Park.