The Rev. Dr. Timothy Davish

The Rev. Dr. Timothy Davish, 53, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Fort Scott, Kan., died unexpectedly Wednesday evening, June 29, 2011, in the Mercy Health Center emergency room following an apparent heart attack.

He was born Sept. 21, 1957, in Butler County, Ohio, the son of Melvin John Davish and Beda Christine Doyle Davish. He worked as a high school teacher for 15 years in Ohio, also coaching boy's basketball and girls golf.

He married Julie Lynn Sivrais on Aug. 22, 1992, in Hamilton, Ohio. He served as youth pastor and associate pastor in his home church in Ohio. He has served as the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Fort Scott for the past four years. In his counseling, he saw the need to further his education in order to meet the needs of the people he worked with. He graduated in May of 2011 with his Doctorate in Clinical Christian Counseling. Even though he received his doctorate, he wanted to be referred to and remembered as a pastor. His love for those listening was truly evident. He was also very fond of hunting, which he enjoyed during his move to Kansas.

Survivors include his wife, Julie; daughter, Amber Renee' Davish, of the home; two sons, Timothy Lee Davish II , Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jonathan Thomas Davish, Dayton, Ky.; his mother, Beda Davish, Hamilton, Ohio; two grandchildren, Abigail and Keagan; two brothers, Robert M. Davish, Hamilton, Ohio, and Steven Davish and wife, Peggy, Monroe, Ohio; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father.

The Rev. Dr. John Williams and the Rev. Marty DeWitt will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 6, at the First Baptist Church in Fort Scott. Burial will take place Friday in the Butler County Memorial Park Cemetery, Hamilton, Ohio. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Tuesday, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church Dream Big Fund and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.