Keith Eric Davis

Keith was born December 10, 1964, in Beaumont, Texas, the youngest of four children to Darrell Evans Davis, a Lamar University geology professor and Una Surosky Davis, a nurse and a war bride from Australia.

As a child Keith spent time outside with his family both in West Texas where Keith’s dad frequently traveled for summer camps with Lamar students and while helping develop family property at Lake Sam Rayburn.  As a result, Keith had a passion for the outdoors – nature, peace, quiet and solitude. He was only nine years old, when he began camping alone in his family’s backyard and the woods surrounding Lake Sam Rayburn.

Conversely, the South Park Greenie salutatorian graduate was a hard rocker. He was a self-taught guitar player, who also wrote music and sang. In high school and college Keith was a member of several bands High Speed Steel and Mudflat Community Players and embraced the eighties music trends with his heavy metal guitar playing and his look - long curly hair and pleather pants.

Several years into college Keith decided he wasn’t going to be the rock star he dreamed, and fell back on his intellect. Although his guitar playing was better than average, his ability to think and problem solve was superior. He cut his hair and focused on academics, excelling at a computer science degree at Lamar University. But before graduating two major events set the trajectory of his life. Keith met the love of his life, a fiery independent, Katrina “Kate” Dal Santo, and, Keith started a custom software company, American Computer Ingenuity. Kate became his wife in 1990 and his computer company, which he cofounded, became a solely owned enterprise, renamed, Application Factory, Inc., a computer software business focused on petrochemical and heavy industry business. The woman and the work would last his lifetime.

As young marrieds, Keith and Kate loved to road trip often renting sleeping trailers for long camping weekends. Even after having children, Jacob in 1999 and Joshua in 2003, the family camped, hiked and, at least twice a year, vacationed somewhere in the mountains – Colorado, Maine, Canada, Tennessee, California, Washington – typically driving and often staying somewhere secluded for the peace and quiet and quality family time.

Even while at home, Keith preferred being outdoors boiling crawfish or grilling, working his garden and yard, lounging in the pool, having a cold one and playing a few guitar licks around his fire pit that he and the boys built and even camping with his young boys in the back yard.

Keith had a healthy balance for work and play. He worked to live and live to the fullest, prioritizing his role as husband and father above all else. He was a faithful and loyal husband, wonderful supporter, hard worker and loving spouse who respected his wife’s independence but was also chivalrous. Keith opened every door and pulled out every chair for Kate and much to her pleasure, she never had to take the trash out during their 25 years of marriage.

Likewise, Keith was a committed and a hands-on dad. He told his boys it was his responsibility to make them good men and he exemplified that, serving as the “science dad” at All Saint’s School, volunteering for, first, Cub Scouts, and later, Boy Scouts, becoming Scout Master of Troop 601. He traveled to Philmont Scout Ranch, a 12-day, 90-mile, high adventure scout camp to chaperon and experience the challenge with his son, Jacob. He planned and organized Boy Scout camp outs for Joshua always making them educational and fun with a few scary campfire stories, too.

Whatever activity his boys showed interest in, Keith committed to help, regardless of any personal goals. He was a founding member of the board of the West Beaumont Bulldogs youth football organization because his boys wanted to play and there were not local options. He was the treasurer of that organization and president for two years.

Selflessly, Keith donated his time and talents year after year to All Saints teaching calculator to students participating in Private Schools Interscholastic Association competitions. Many of the students medaled and one went to state under Keith’s tutelage.  He built props for school plays and rarely missed one of his sons’ field trips, typically serving as chaperon.

Keith also gave to his alma mater, Lamar University, serving as an advisor to the Computer Science Department of Lamar and annually speaking to graduating students about careers and job opportunities in the software development field.

Although raised in a non-church going home, Keith came to know the Lord Jesus Christ and brought his family to St. Mark’s Church where they were baptized and confirmed. He saw to it that the boys served as acolytes and he also gave of his talents playing guitar for special church occasions. He and Kate were members of an adult Sunday school class and volunteered for the annual Chili Supper.

In light of recent violence against police officers, most recently Keith initiated his own officer appreciation program, flagging down local members of the Beaumont Police Department, giving them gift cards to Carrabbas and thanking them for their service. Keith’s altruism was recognized. Beaumont Police Department awarded him the Chief’s Appreciation Award for kindness to police officers.

Through his life’s work as a custom-software developer, devoted husband and an actively engaged dad, Keith made life better for those he loved, his employees and the community. He imparted wisdom, shared compassion and his talents, giving more than he took, without expectation. Keith quietly sought to make things better in all aspects of life and leaves a legacy of benevolence, morality and optimism.

During the last few years, when Keith’s cancer pain increased, he never made mention of it. He maintained the same quiet and kind demeanor he seemed to have found as a child in nature, an inner peace and calm, living each day contented to be with those he loved.

Keith died as he lived, surrounded by family and loving friends, quietly, peacefully but with a little rock music playing in the background.

Keith is survived by his wife, Katrina Dal Santo Davis; sons, Jacob Eric and Joshua Scott; sister, Lois Davis Birdwell, brother, Darrell Evans Davis, Jr., and many friends who love him. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Yolande Davis.

A memorial service for Mr. Davis will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont. A gathering of his family and friends will follow his service until 12:00 p.m. in the Cloister room at the church. A family committal was held at Broussard’s Crematorium under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.