Richard Matthew Davis (1940-2026)

Richard ‘Dick’ Matthew Davis, 86, of Reading, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2026, at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital after a valiant battle with cancer. Born on April 6, 1940, in Everett, Massachusetts, Dick was the son of the late Herbert and Grace (Lucey) Davis. He is reunited in peace with his parents and dear sister, Claire Ronayne.

After graduating from Melrose High School in 1958, Dick attended the Huntington School and Boston University before stepping away to support his mother following his father's passing. He went on to honorably serve in the Massachusetts Air National Guard and later worked as a dedicated member of Teamsters Local 25. A man of immense resilience and endless positivity, Dick courageously beat cancer in 2019 before its recent return—granting his loved ones cherished "bonus years" and refusing to let it sideline him until his final days.

Dick made an immediate and lasting impression on everyone he met. He was the ultimate storyteller who loved to laugh, often at his own expense. Known for his bright smile, generous spirit, and carefree demeanor, he was always unapologetically himself. He regularly checked in on loved ones and never forgot a birthday or anniversary, invariably marking the back of his mailed cards with his signature smiley face.

A Boy Scout in his youth and a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Dick lived life to the absolute fullest. He drove his beloved pickup truck every day and was out kayaking with his daughter less than a month before his passing. He loved tinkering on projects, was an avid, lifelong reader of Popular Mechanics, National Geographic, and the Boston Sunday Globe, and he enjoyed attending classic car shows and photographing everything around him. His livelihood and adventurous spirit took him on road trips across the country, including all over Arizona and New England, with frequent visits to his favorite place on earth, Newfound Lake in New Hampshire. Whether kayaking, hiking, skiing, camping, sledding, ice skating, ziplining, or four-wheeling, he was always ready for an adventure.

Above all, Dick’s greatest devotion was to his family. He cherished holidays and gatherings with loved ones, was the first to arrive for the births of both of his granddaughters, and rarely missed their sports games or races.

Dick was the beloved partner of more than 30 years to Suzanne Telles, his high school sweetheart, with whom he reunited later in life. He will be forever missed by his two daughters, Kate Carroll and her husband Tim of Upton, MA, and Jill Davis of Providence, RI; and his two adored granddaughters, Samantha and Evelyn Carroll. He is also lovingly remembered by Sue’s son, Christopher Telles (his daughter, Kayla and granddaughter, Ariana), and daughter Melanie Lawhorne and her husband Dennis (their daughter, Caroline and sons, Cameron and James); his niece Janet Harris and her husband Tim; his nephew Peter Ronayne; his grand-nephews Steven, Jack, Patrick, and Luke; his grand-niece Riley; and his great-grand-nephew, Max.

Services & Memorials

• Celebration of Life: A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Gately Funeral Home in Melrose. Visitation will take place from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, with a Celebration of Life service beginning at 12:30 PM.
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• Interment: Burial of Richard’s ashes with military honors will take place privately at a later date at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose.
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• In Lieu of Flowers: Memorial donations may be made to the Newfound Lake Region Association to protect the watershed he held dear (newfoundlake.org/in-honor-of) or to the American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org).
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"The wheels have stopped turning, but the legacy of the miles they traveled will roll on forever."