Davis was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1963. He continued to play professionally until 1964. Davis died on 10 July 1978, two months after becoming ill while watching his brother Fred play Perrie Mans in the 1978 World Snooker Championship semi-final. The day after the match, he collapsed in the street and required a lengthy operation. He died from a chest infection he contracted whilst recuperating from the operation. The house in Whitwell where he was born bears a plaque commemorating him.