Obituary of Thomas Clifton Davis

Thomas Clifton Davis, born in Palo Alto on the first day of spring in 1943, died peacefully at his home in Santa Cruz on March 31st following a brief struggle with stage four melanoma. A private memorial was held. Remembrances are requested to the Willis-Ekborn/Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation. During his service as a military police intelligence officer with the National Guard, he spent five years as a deputy sheriff with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department. Prior to becoming a private investigator in 1972, he spent two years as a counselor with the Santa Clara County Probation Department. During his forty-year career as a private investigator he assisted the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs draft and rewrite the licensing test for private investigators. He served as president of the California Association of Licensed Investigators. He worked extensively with national and international pharmaceutical companies investigating counterfeit product, black and grey market sales and contaminated product. However, his main focus was on criminal law cases. He investigated in excess of 800 felony cases. He had extensive homicide experience, with more than 130 cases and he was qualified as a homicide expert, investigating and testifying for both the prosecution and defense. Tom had a passion for gardening, becoming a certified Master Gardener in 2001. Fishing streams and lakes and visiting the family cabin in the high Sierras filled his summers. Bocce ball and endless Backgammon games were favorites. In recent years he could often be found cruising West Cliff Drive in "Betsy" his classic '56 Ford Fairlane street rod, a wide smile peeking out from beneath his trademark handlebar mustache. Tom was the perfect father for his two daughters, providing them with a good balance of humor, impeccable work ethic and the confidence to follow their dreams. Tom is survived by his wife of 42 years, Mary Alice (Jonason) Davis, daughters Jessica Beth Drollette of Guatemala City, and Alison Margaret Ann "Maggie" Davis of San Francisco, brothers Frederick and Robert Davis, nieces Lisa Hemphill and Kristi Emmons, and nephews Jason, Matthew, Christopher and Aaron Davis. He was preceded in death by his parents Frederick Edward Davis and Dorothy Ann McCraith Davis.