Our History...

February 20, 1905, commenced the “undertaking” business in a storefront in the Austin Building in downtown Willoughby; moved next door to #26 Erie Street in 1914 where rent was cheaper. Moved to #49 Second Street several years later and acquired the building at #36 Clark Avenue in 1932, where the business is presently located.
-From handwritten notes of L.P. Davis, founder

Leon Prentice (L.P.) Davis began his business in Willoughby with a new “Sayers and Scovill hearse, a casket wagon, a good team and a stock of caskets”. Mr. Davis had attended the Adelbert College of Western Reserve University in Cleveland and received his professional diploma from the Massachusetts Embalming School in Columbus, in 1904.

In 1906, he married Jessie Langshaw and in 1907, their son, Roger Van Gorder Davis was born. Roger would later join the business as the second generation. In the early years, Mr. Davis taught High School, covering S.D. Shankland’s classes when the Ohio legislature was in session. As the business prospered, Jessie became his helpmate, and was granted her own funeral director’s license in the 1930’s for her practical experience.

In 1914, he moved the business to a new location on Erie Street, in the Cleveland Trust Building, and added a line of furniture, because back then, nearly every funeral director needed another source of income; most often a furniture store or livery stable.

After World War I, the business was moved to a home on Second Street, once known as #49 Second Street. Prior to this time, remains were prepared in the deceased’s residence; but now, such work was done in the funeral home, and services could be scheduled in either the funeral home or the family’s church.

As mentioned earlier, L.P.’s son, Roger, joined the business in 1928 after earning his diploma from the Cleveland School of Embalming. In March 1932, Roger married Frances Sherman, who was a registered nurse, and she began assisting in the business as well. In April 1932, the present home at 4154 Clark Avenue (once #36) was purchased and the business was moved again.

As the business grew, the need for more staff became apparent. Mr. Howard W. Taylor joined the staff in 1948 and completed 34 years of service before retiring in 1982.

In 1959, after 54 years, L.P. Davis retired, and business was acquired by Roger and his wife, Fran. In 1967, their youngest son, Charles Roger Davis received his diploma from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and joined the family business, along with a classmate from Cincinnati, John Richard “J.R.” Vaughan. In 1979, Charles acquired the business from his parents, becoming the third generation to own and operate the funeral home. Mr. Vaughan retired in 2003, after 36 years of service.

In October 1987, Mitchell W. Babcock, a native of Lake County, joined the staff as a funeral director and embalmer, having also earned his diploma from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.

In 2006, Charles Davis reached a decision to secure the future of the business for years to come. Having no family interested in succeeding him as the fourth generation, he made the decision to sell the business, and Mitchell succeeded him, after working there more than 19 years.

On February 13, 2007, just one week shy of the beginning of the 103rd year, the business was officially sold to Mitchell Babcock and his family. Through the years, the business has employed many funeral directors, embalmers and other staff, but L.P. Davis’ philosophy still applies just as vividly today, as it did then: “No person can operate a successful business alone. He must have loyal friends, and we have been so fortunate to have made many in our years. These we value more than any material gain we may have had.”

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