Dr. Bernard “Barney” Davis, age 90, of Lexington, KY, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2026. Barney was a longtime educator in Kentucky at Berea College and Morehead State University.
Barney’s life began in Oneida, Kentucky, where he spent most of his childhood and graduated from high school. From Oneida, he went to Berea College and then on to the University of Kentucky.
Barney graduated from Berea College in 1956 and worked 3 years at Cincinnati Bell before deciding to continue his education at UK in 1959. In 1964 Barney began his teaching career at Berea College, and he completed his Ph.D. from UK in 1967.
Over the years Barney taught business, economics, finance and statistics courses and held many elected or appointed posts along the way including: Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Morehead State University, Dean of Professional Studies at Morehead State University, Dean of Student Affairs at Berea College, President of the MSU Credit Union, Member of the Governor’s Economic Round Table (appointed by Governor Brereton Jones), Berea City Council Member, Volunteer Firefighter at Berea College, Theater Manager of Wilderness Road in Berea, Head of the Business Administration Department at MSU, Class Coordinator for his 1956 Berea College Class, President of the Kentucky Economics Association, and Director of the Appalachian Development Center in Morehead.
On the personal side, along with the love Barney had for his children, he also had a keen passion for aviation which led to him obtaining his private pilot’s license in 1972. He very much enjoyed going to Cincinnati Reds games as well as listening to or watching UK play basketball or football. He enjoyed playing golf on the weekends with his friends as time permitted as well as his semiannual poker games with his colleagues. He managed to maintain an interest in all of his children’s activities throughout the years from music recitals/performances to cheerleading to baseball and golf. Barney served as an educator for thousands of young adults during his time at both schools, and it has been mentioned on many occasions about the positive impact he had on those that he taught. He was widely respected by his peers and was reportedly one of the best leaders, friends, and colleagues to those with whom he came into contact.
Barney is survived by his family: Jerrye (wife); children, Pamela, Susan (Kevin), Charlsa (John), Chuck (Nancy), and Chris (Nora); step-children, Jason (Maria) and Ben; grandchildren, Debbie, Stephanie, Chelsea, Kaitlyn, Taylor, Brad, and Blake; step-grandchildren, Ollie and Theo; nieces, Dianne Knose and Gena Baldwin; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth; brother, Ronald; and parents, Charles and Sudie Burns Davis.
A private celebration of life for family will be held at a later date and time.
If so inclined, the family suggests donations to Alzheimer’s research which can be made to the Sanders Brown Center on Aging at the University of Kentucky by visiting https://medicine.uky.edu/centers/sbcoa/donor-opportunities.
Friends and family are welcome to share their condolences and memories on Barney’s tribute wall at www.TuckerYocumWilson.com.
