The body of Dan Davis, a longtime employee at 115 Bourbon Street, was found in Blue Island on March 9 after months of searching. Davis, 59, had been missing since November, and the efforts to find him gained support from people locally and across the country. A Facebook group dedicated to finding him has more than 49,000 members.
A celebration of life for Davis is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park. Organizers said they are “coming together to celebrate the life of Dan, our friend and our family, who brought so much light to all of us.” Due to the large outpouring of support from friends and strangers alike, organizers said there will be a capacity limit for the event. They have asked those who knew Davis personally or helped with search efforts to RSVP.
Davis was last seen early Nov. 25 at his workplace after being involved in a car accident nearby just hours before. He was believed by friends to have suffered a head injury that left him disoriented. His daughter Wendy Davis announced his death on social media after authorities confirmed his remains were found near train tracks adjacent to property in Blue Island.
Wendy Davis wrote: “It’s an eerie feeling — thank god this terrible chapter of constant unknown is finally over. But now starts a new terrible chapter without my smarter, goofier, and relentlessly selfless other half… I’ve never laughed harder with anybody than I have with my dad.”
During the search effort for Davis, community members organized vigils and search parties while private canine teams assisted in looking for him. The business where he worked posted a tribute calling him “a friend, a brother, and a true part of our family.” The post continued: “For more than 25 years, Dan was an irreplaceable part of the Bourbon Street family… So much of what happens here was touched by Dan in some way.”
The event aims not only to honor his memory but also acknowledges how many lives he impacted during his decades working at Bourbon Street.
