Loyal Davis was born on January 17, 1896 in Galesburg, Illinois, USA. He was married to Edith Luckett and Pearl McPhersen. He died on August 19, 1982 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
Davis had one son, Richard, from his first marriage; Richard came to live with the family in 1939 after his mother, Pearl McPhersen, a nurse, died of cancer.
Legally adopted his step-daughter Nancy Reagan when she was seventeen years old. She then legally changed her last name to 'Davis'. He later became a conservative political influence on his son-in-law, future President Ronald Reagan.