Nancy (Campbell) Davis of Montgomery, Texas, was at the SDBA (Southern Drag Boat Association) banquet in Tulsa, Oklahoma to be presented an award for her & the War Party team winning the Top Alcohol Flat Bottom Championship which she was so very proud of only to later succumb to a fatal heart complication and wake up in the arms of her savior in heaven.
She was born in Berkley, California on April 25, 1945 the daughter of Andrew Davis Campbell Sr. and Mattie Bell Henderson Campbell. She grew up in Brownwood later moving to Dallas and the Conroe/Montgomery area near Houston. She worked as a secretary for several companies and found that she had an interest in drag boat racing while attending the last Aquafestival in Austin in 1978 and began her career in boat racing. After marrying her husband Jerry Davis in 1986 who was the owner/driver of the “War Party”, she became an important team member of their drag boat racing team. Her work included working on the motor, coordination travel for the crew and rig, designing the racing apparel, PR work, securing sponsors and feeding the crew. She and her husband traveled all over competing and promoting racing.
Nancy began serving as a representative of Racers Emergency Support Program and was later elected as a Board Member of RESP. She served as the banquet chairman of the SDBA for several years. Her husband died in 2010 from pancreatic cancer and following his death, she continued to be involved in the racing team. She decided to bring back their “War Party” Top Alcohol Flat machine in her husband’s honor and in 2015 she won the Drag Boat Racing award after making a debut at the San Angelo Showdown.
Nancy loved her family and many friends and especially her SDBA family which included a nation-wide family of quarter mile drag racers, crews and fans. She was always active and involved and was a member of the Lone Star Cowboy Church in Montgomery.
She is survived by a brother, Andy Campbell and wife Cheryl of Brownwood, a niece, Shelly Campbell of Brownwood, a nephew Brian Campbell of Dallas, a great-nephew Kaylom Campbell and wife Myra of Euless, and a great-great niece, Isabella Campbell of Euless, a great-niece Julia Maldonado of Brownwood, two step-sons John Davis and spouse Jesse Martinez of Houston, Joe Davis and wife LaDonna of Houston, a step-daughter Renee Francis and husband Rob of Belton, two step-grandsons, Jeffrey Francis of Lott and Jess Francis of Belton, Also surviving is her brother-in-law, Max Davis and wife Linda of Spring, a grand-daughter, McKenzie Benton, Jerry’s War Party TAF 556 Racing Crew, War Party TAF 556 Sponsors, Racers For Christ, Racers Emergency Support Program, and all her friends involved in drag racing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jerry, and her son, Andrew Paul Dillingham.
A celebration of her life will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, March 7, at the Davis-Morris Funeral Chapel with Mike Griffith, Chaplain of the Racing Assn. officiating. Burial will follow in the Eastlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Davis-Morris Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 6 – 8 pm on Friday evening at the funeral home.
Memorials are requested to be made to the Racers Emergency Support Program or Racers for Christ.
Friends and family are encouraged to sign the guest register at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com.
