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Meet Your Neighbor: Meet The Neighbor – Larry Davis
By Callie Thomas
For many, the topic of death is not an easy one but 89128 resident Larry Davis has devoted the past 34 years to serving and honoring those who have died. Davis is the General Manager of Palm Mortuary’s Downtown location. As a young man he received a personal and spiritual calling to help families dealing with the loss of a loved one. Having had the opportunity to work at each of the Palm Mortuaries in the Vegas Valley, Davis has become very familiar with the people that make up the community he has called home since 1995. His devotion to supporting others has led him to create a monument dedicated to the civil rights movement in Las Vegas called the Garden of Dreams. As part of the program, a scholarship is offered with the Public Education Foundation to help local students obtain their educational goals and to encourage them to pursue their careers in Las Vegas while contributing to the city. Founding a new program and developing a monument is not easy, but Davis knows a thing or two about hard work.
Upon graduation from high school he began his career at a family-owned mortuary in Southern California where he learned to respect the industry. After attending mortuary science college, he spent the next 15 years working for Pierce Brothers Mortuaries in Southern California which includes the location in Westwood Village where famous entertainers like Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood and Jim Backus are laid to rest. He took a leap of faith by leaving his family and friends to move to Las Vegas, and has since become entrenched within the community, lending his support to a number of organizations including Nathan Adelson Hospice, United States Veterans Initiative and Keep Memory Alive. Davis talks about his prized accomplishment, and living to the fullest in Las Vegas.
What was your inspiration in creating the Garden of Dreams?
“I think it stems from an innate desire to help others. That drive was really fundamental in coming up with the idea for the Garden of Dreams. I wanted to create a space that invites people to reflect on our journey toward equality for all.”
Tell us about the monument and scholarship fund.
“The monument, which resembles a giant granite torch, is engraved with the words dignity, equality, justice and freedom. It is a tribute to the equality movement and a symbol of Palm Mortuary’s commitment to educating young people who demonstrate the ideas of civil rights heroes. A college scholarship will be awarded to one student each year, funded in part by the sale of pavers along the monument walk and burial cremation plots surrounding it. There are 14 granite stars, representing the 14th Amendment. We will hold an annual dedication to recognize a significant contributor to the civil rights movement locally or globally.”
You have to be proud of creating the Garden of Dreams.
“I am honored that the community has been so supportive. When I drive downtown on Las Vegas Boulevard and see this permanent monument to civil rights that I had dreamed of and is now built, I feel incredibly proud.”
As part of the community, what would be your most memorable experience?
“Believe it or not, my most memorable experience was fairly recent. We worked with Metro and the family of a fallen officer on his arrangements and just being able to help and honor a community hero with his loved ones is something that will always stay with me.”
What do you think makes you successful?
“For me, being successful isn’t about wealth or material things. It’s about being able to help people in their most difficult times.”
What is your favorite way to unwind after a long day?
“I enjoy going out to dinner with friends but mostly spending time at home with my husband Lee Cagley and taking our two dogs Maxwell and Bentley for a long evening walk around the lakes in Desert Shores.”
