James "Jim" Davis (Lebanon)'s Obituary
James Albert Davis, son of James Carl and Betty Jean Hopkins Davis, was born April 24, 1951, in Kansas City, Missouri. He departed this life Sunday, January 17, 2021, in the University of Missouri Hospital, in Columbia, Missouri, at the age of sixty-nine years, eight months, and twenty-four days.
On September 15, 1973, he was united in marriage to Vickie Rae Meads, and to this union one daughter and one son were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Vickie, on April 17, 2016; and his father-in-law, Terry Jones.
Jim is survived by a daughter, Heather Bryant, and her husband, John, of Lebanon, Missouri; a son, Ryan Davis, and his wife, Courtney, of Ozark, Missouri; four grandchildren, Aidan, Tucker and Sawyer Davis, and Isaiah Bryant; his mother-in-law, Doris Jones, of Lebanon, Missouri; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was raised on the family farm, near Lebanon, and graduated from Lebanon High School in the Class of 1969 where he was the drum major of the Lebanon High School Band. He then attended Missouri State University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree. After he and Vickie were married, they made their home in Lebanon and lovingly raised their children. Jim worked at Independent Stave Company, for a few years, and then went to work for Marathon Electric. His current position was with Emerson Climate Technologies/Copeland, where he had worked the past 27 years. Over the course of his work, Jim made many friends around the world and was well-respected by his colleagues.
Jim was raised in the First United Methodist Church but later joined the First Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon, and was active in the music ministry, including the church choir. He had a constant, deep, abiding faith in God and was always willing to help anyone in need. He also was particularly good at visiting people in the hospital. He was actively involved the Gideon Bible Ministry for many years. Jim’s faith was central in his life and was his compass until the end.
He enjoyed doing woodworking projects, cooking and baking delicious pies. He was a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball team. He served on the Lebanon City Council from December 2006 to April 2009, and was involved in the Lebanon Community Theater, performing in the musicals Oklahoma and The Music Man. He had a very good singing voice and sang many solos in church and other places. His family was very important to him and his life revolved around them and their activities. He was very faithful at attending his children’s and grandchildren’s athletic games and any function in which they were involved. He was a wonderful caregiver when his parents’ health began to fail. He continued his ultimate caregiver role through Vickie’s two and half year battle with cancer. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren as they were the center of his life.
Jim was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son-in-law, and was a caring friend. We celebrate his life and know that his family and friends will hold tight to the wonderful memories he made for them during his lifetime.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Lebanon with Pastor Matt Taylor officiating. Friends may come by the funeral home at their convenience through Thursday morning. Burial will be in Mount Rose Memorial Park. A memorial to the Gideon Ministry and been established and donations may be left at the funeral home.
The family has requested that all in attendance wear a mask.
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