William Davant Sterry, known to family and friends as Davant, passed away peacefully at his home in Matagorda at the age of 94 on Thursday, April 25, 2013. A life long Matagorda Resident, he was born on October 1, 1918 to Wesley Manning & Ella Dunbar Sterry. Davant attended elementary school in Matagorda and high school at Gulf, where he earned a varsity letter as a basketball player. He entered the U. S. Army in June 1941, and was seriously wounded while serving as a tank gunner in North Africa. After a lengthy recovery and time spent on limited duty, he returned home in 1944, and was honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal. He married Helen Lola Emily Caso of Galveston on September 14, 1944.

Davant worked for many years as a Lockman for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Colorado River Locks in Matagorda, eventually serving as Assistant Lockmaster and later as Lockmaster until his retirement. During the early 1950s, he also played on Matagorda's first fast pitch softball team. In 1954, he built his 32-foot shrimp boat, the Captain Wes, in the front yard of its namesake, his father, and spent many weekends and vacations running it. He continued to run and maintain it after retiring from the Corps of Engineers, and even when his health no longer allowed him to use it, he "checker on the boat" almost every day until very recently.

Although he and Helen had no children of their own, they were like "second parents" to the children of relatives, friends, and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Wesley Edward Sterry; his wife of 58 years, Helen; one brother-in-law, Antonio Caso, and a nephew, Edwin Caso.

The family will receive visitors from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday, April 28, 2013 at the funeral home. The funeral service will be held 10:00 AM Monday, April 29, 2013 at The Matagorda Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Matagorda Cemetery.