RAYMA DAVIS

THE VILLAGES, Fla.- Former Lamar Democrat newspaper Editor and Co-Owner Rayma (Bekebrock) Davis died early Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at UF Spanish Plaines Hospital, of natural causes following a short illness.

She and her husband, Douglas Davis, operated the Lamar Democrat for almost four decades, with the length of ownership and operation second only to the famed Arthur Aull and daughter Madeleine Aull VanHafften. The Aull family owned and operated the newspaper from 1899 to 1972.

Rayma was a graduate of Lamar High School and a member of the Lamar United Methodist Church.

She held a Masters in English from Pittsburg State University and a Bachelor of Science from Missouri Southern State University. As an English professor she taught for 21 years at Webb City High School and also taught at MSSU and The Villages (Fla.) High School college English program. Her superior work was acknowledged with several awards for outstanding achievement.

During her tenure as Lamar Democrat editor she was heavily involved in community improvement and service and was the recipient of numerous awards for her contributions and leadership. She served on various boards during that decade including Foundation Board president and long serving member at Missouri Southern State University, her alma mater. She had just been awarded her 50 year medal from the college in March.

In her native Lamar and Barton County, she served as a member and president of numerous community boards, including the Barton County Chamber of Commerce, Lamar Park Board and others. She helped established the Barton County Health Foundation.

She received the Barton County Chamber “Truman Award”, Outstanding Service Award from Barton County 4-H and was named to the Extension Leaders Honor Roll by University of Missouri Columbia. She was a member of the Missouri Press Association, where she served as the first female president of the Southwest Missouri Press Association. She and her husband Doug were the first husband and wife to serve in this position.

She also received various recognitions and honors from The State of Missouri House of Representatives.

Rayma was the oldest daughter of Barton County Hospital Administrator Jerry Bekebrock and wife Jean. Her father was administrator from the mid 1950’s until his sudden demise of a heart attack at the hospital in 1971.

She is survived by her husband, former Lamar Democrat newspaper Publisher and Owner Douglas Davis of the home; a sister, Kimberly J. McDaniel, two nieces and a cousin.

In lieu of flowers donors may make a donation in her name to the MSSU Foundation. 

There will be no funeral services. A gathering of local Lamar friends will toast her at a later date.