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James Riley “Jim” Davis

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James Riley “Jim” Davis

Birth	:	29 Jul 1918
Death	:	12 Nov 1993
Burial	:	Saint John Cemetery, Saint John, Whitman County, USA
Coordinate	:	47.0780983, -117.5350037
Plot	:	Sec. E, Lot #21
Description	:	James Riley Davis, Sr. was born on July 29, 1918 in Sunset, Washington (three miles from the ranch house of his father, Maberry Davis). He had one younger sister named Gwendolyn Ruth (Davis) Collins. He grew up as a child in the 1920's and as a young man in the 1930's. He loved to read, which was encouraged by his college educated parents. He was intellectually gifted and skipped a grade in school, graduating from high school in 1935 as a Valedictorian from Pine City High School, at AGE 16. He was a good... Read More	James Riley Davis, Sr. was born on July 29, 1918 in Sunset, Washington (three miles from the ranch house of his father, Maberry Davis). He had one younger sister named Gwendolyn Ruth (Davis) Collins. He grew up as a child in the 1920's and as a young man in the 1930's. He loved to read, which was encouraged by his college educated parents. He was intellectually gifted and skipped a grade in school, graduating from high school in 1935 as a Valedictorian from Pine City High School, at AGE 16. He was a good athlete and played both high school baseball and town team baseball as a teenager. He batted .570 at shortstop his senior year and was an all-county team selection. He attended Washington State College in Pullman from (1935-1940) receiving a BA in English and a MA in English. He had a job as a Teaching Fellow while taking his Master's Degree. James R. Davis married Jean LaVonne McSweeney on October 4, 1941. James had been accepted into the PhD program in English at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. After the wedding they traveled to Washington D.C. to being the program. Pearl Harbor two months later changed everything. By spring, most of the young able bodied men had enlisted in the armed forces. His father Maberry Davis was having trouble, as were other farmers, getting good help to put in and harvest crops. He sent a letter to his son James and asked if he could stop school for a while and help him at the farm. By spring term, James and LaVonne were headed back to St. John by car Gas Ration Coupons in hand, to help at the farm. They remained living in St. John and farming the "Home Place" the rest of their working days. James never got to be the college English professor he had set out to be. However, he became a very good farmer. He served on the St. John and Whitman County School Boards; was on the Board of Directors of the St. John Grain Growers for many years; was a Master Mason and is a Past Master of Malden Lodge #188. His love of tennis lead him to seek a bond issue to build tennis courts for the St. John High School, which took two tries to pass and then build. His loves of golf lead him to start the St. John Golf and Country Club. He personally planted all the grass on the fairways of the original six-hole course. The trees that line the fairways were dug and transplanted from his mother Ruth's plantings around the farm. The course has since been expanded to nine holes and remains a showcase of the community. He became active in barbershop quartet and men's chorus singing, attending many of the society's annual conventions. He bought an airplane for the farm for the purpose of spraying crops. He learned to fly, getting his private, commercial and instrument ratings. This led him to become active in the International Flying Farmers organization. James, Sr. died suddenly in November of 1993 from liver failure caused by hepatitis A in Escondido, California. His ashes are buried in St. John, Washington.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is James Riley “Jim” Davis's memorial?
James Riley “Jim” Davis's memorial is located at: Saint John Cemetery, Saint John, Whitman County, USA.
When did James Riley “Jim” Davis death?
James Riley “Jim” Davis death on 12 Nov 1993 in
Where are the coordinates of the James Riley “Jim” Davis's memorial?
Latitude: 47.0780983
Longitude: -117.5350037

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

LaVonne “Jean” McSweeney Davis

(1920 - 2004)

Siblings

Flowers:

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