Davis Groceries… I grew up living a half mile out of town of Gideon, Missouri in the same house from 1953 to 1968. I was three years old when we moved in and eighteen years old when I moved out. Looking back, it was a large part what made me who I am today. My family values were shown to me by example, not only by my grandparents, but by most everyone I came in contact with growing up in Gideon. One of those people was H.E. Davis, “Homer” I think, the owner of a small grocery store in town. I think his trademark was his white butcher’s apron. I never saw him without it on. Mr Davis had to have known every kid in town by name and those he didn’t know, his wife Georgia, did. Mr Davis always had a soft voice and a soft smile when you walked into his store. Georgia, however seemed to be a little on the “Grumpy” side. She also seemed to know a lot about everyone in town, but I guess if every woman in town stopped by and had a chit-chat with her, them she couldn’t help but know all about everyone. They also had a daughter, Hazel that worked at the store. She was more like her dad, sort of quite. I worked for Mr Davis a few times sweeping the store and the sidewalk out in front of the store. I don’t really think he needed the help, but, was just giving me a little spending money. Because there were limited places to eat during our school lunch period, some of us would hurry down to Davis Groceries and have a bologna or ham sandwich and a sodie for lunch. Mr Davis would fix it just like you wanted it and he used that fresh, soft Wonder Bread. I can smell it right now. I liked my bologna about a half inch thick with cheese and mustard on it. We would get our sodie and sandwich and go over on the side of the store where the burlap sacks were stacked. They were filled with taters, flour, beans and such. We would sit on the sacks and enjoy our sandwiches and cool drinks. Mr Davis would fix your sandwich first then, if you didn’t have the money to pay for it, he just put it on your parent’s bill. Fifteen cents for a sandwich and ten cents for a sodie. I remember one day in late December, 1962 me and a half dozen other kids were sitting around the coal stove enjoying our sandwiches listening over the half wall that divided the store, to Mrs Davis talk about someone’s hardship just loud enough for us to hear. The weather was getting bad with some sleet mixed with snow coming down on top of what had already fell yesterday and partially melted then refrozen. The coal stove sure felt good after our brisk walk from the school. I sure was glad I had on my coat and warm boots. I hate it when my feet are cold. That day I remember seeing three kids come in to the store with lightweight coats on with torn sleeves at the shoulders. Their shoes were definitely wrong for the season. They were new to Gideon I was sure because, like Mr and Mrs Davis, I knew almost everyone in town. I thought they had came in to get some sandwiches for lunch, but as they huddled around the stove to warm their hands and feet, I could quickly see they had no money to buy the 15 cent sandwich. I overheard Mrs Davis say to Mr Davis something about kids just making themselves at home in a place of business. Mr Davis went to the rear of the store, stirred around for a couple of minutes and returned with three sandwiches and three chocolate sodies. He smiled as he gave them to the three children and never said a word. We were all silent for a few minutes thinking about what had just happened. Even though I was a 12 year old boy, I was mighty proud to know a man like Mr Davis and hoped I would be like him some day. I think without realizing it, Mr Davis had taught me a valuable lesson and I am sure the other six kids sitting around that stove that day lucky enough to be able to buy our lunch, felt the same way. Mrs Davis had her receipt book and a pencil ready to document the lunches when Mr Davis returned to the counter. Mr Davis took the book and the pencil from her hands and laid them back on the counter. Nothing was written anywhere. Although I will never live up to Mr Davis’ standards no matter how hard I try, one of the things I did learn from him was, “If you have it, share it”… Thanks Mr Davis for setting the example.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 16:00:24 +0000
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