Clayton & Helen Nagel Ely and Emmett & Inez Greenley McCloskey Fund

Libby Davis said, “It was great!” growing up in Knox County, Missouri. She played basketball and softball and went swimming every Saturday at Baring Country Club. She was in band and Girl Scouts and spent much of her time riding horses.

“We were able to do all sorts of different things,” Libby said. Her husband, Jerry, his parents, and her own parents all grew up in Knox County, too. “It’s where our roots are,” Libby said.

In 2007, Jerry and Libby decided to plant some new roots in the areas that mean the most to them. The couple started two Acorn Funds with the Community Foundation. In 2008, those funds became fully endowed.

The Jerry & Libby Davis Fund benefits Lewis County, Missouri where the Davis’ currently reside. The Clayton & Helen Nagel Ely and Emmett & Inez Greenley McCloskey Fund, named after Jerry and Libby’s parents, is used in Knox County, Missouri.

Both funds are designated to benefit health care and education in each county, causes which are very important to the Davis’.

Libby’s mother used in-home health care in the year preceding her death. Both Libby and Jerry said the service was a tremendous help to them.

“They were so good to her,” Jerry said. Their funds help ensure that at-home health care, in addition to other types of health services, will continue to be available in Knox and Lewis counties.

Jerry and Libby believe education is important and want to make sure the two funds enable more students to attend college who otherwise couldn’t afford it. Their two children and daughter-in-law attended Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri.

Jerry and Libby have resided in Lewis County since 1965. The couple is associated with Davis Funeral Homes, Inc. in Canton and La Grange and Ball-Davis in Ewing. The Davis’ truly invested in their home counties. Jerry said the people are friendly and the area is a great place to raise a family. “People have been good to us here,” he said. “We wanted to give back to the communities.”

The Davis’ chose to start funds with the Community Foundation because it allows other people to add to them. Through their generosity, the Davis’ were able to create a legacy for their parents and for themselves to serve the counties where the family first planted its roots.