Carlene Davis

Carlene Ann Holt Davis, 73, a nearly seven-decade resident of southwestern Montana, passed away peacefully at her home in Dillon on November 22, 2015. Carlene was born in Rock Springs, Wyo. on January 26, 1942, daughter of Carl and Virginia Holt. She grew up in Pinedale, Wyo., where her grandfather was sheriff of Sublette County. In 1950, the family moved to Montana and settled on the old Lite Ranch on the upper Madison above Cameron, in Madison County. Carlene grew up riding horses, working cows, and helping with chores on the ranch. She loved all animals and even had a pet skunk for a time. She graduated from Ennis High School in 1962. Later that year, the Holt family sold the ranch to Montana Fish and Game. It is now the Wall Creek Game Range. The family moved to the Big Hole area near Jackson, where they leased Hair Pin Ranch. Just after high school, Carlene was helping on the Hair Pin when a handsome brand inspector came to check the cows. R.L. “Buzz” Davis of Dillon became the love of her life. They married in 1964 while Carlene was earning an Associate Degree in Business at what was then Western Montana College. Together they owned the Conoco Bulk Plant in Dillon. In 1974, Carlene gave birth to their loving daughter, Cinda. Buzz was elected sheriff of Beaverhead County in 1975 and Carlene helped cook and run the jail. Later, Carlene worked as a bookkeeper for several agriculture businesses, including Strozi’s Fertilizer. Carlene was a devoted mother until the very end, a homemaker while working, and loved spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed baking, crafts and having coffee with friends. She will be remembered for her quiet and loving ways, amazing friendships, her strong support of law enforcement, the Western Rodeo team, and calling a spade a spade. Carlene is preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her daughter, Cinda Davis of Belgrade; her brother and sister-in-law, Dave and Colleen Holt of Whitehall; nephews Cotton and Chase Holt of Whitehall, sisters-in-law Dolores Husted of Jackson, Martha Davis of Dillon, and many nieces, nephews and cousins on both sides of her family. A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, December 4 at the Brundage Funeral Home in Dillon. Memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, the UM-Western rodeo team in Dillon, or the donor’s choice. Condolences may be expressed at brundagefuneralhome.com.