Jack L. Davis

Jack Lee Davis went to be with the Lord on June 12, 2023, at the age of 92. Jack was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 54 years, Imogene (Mayfield) Davis; his parents, Urie Marshall Davis and Ruth Elizabeth (Bryars) Davis; sister Virginia (Davis) Bradley and brother-in-law Rev. Clyde Bradley; and son-in-law Rodger Carlson. He is survived by his three children, Ron (Judy) Davis, Sheila Carlson, Leah (Dan) Hite, 10 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Jack was born on August 22, 1930 at home on the “Plantation” near Charleston, Mo., arriving before the doctor. Even in his most recent years he shared happy memories of growing up on the plantation - what we thought of as a truck farm - of 1000 acres. Jack enjoyed sharing memories of his dad getting promoted to “straw boss” and moving their little family into the “big house” on the plantation, and of racing his horse - ol’ Bill - through a wooded path on the place. Memories of driving tractors and trucks with wood blocks fastened to the pedals so he could reach them. His dad put him to work in the fields when Jack was still quite young, working for free until his mom insisted that he should be paid just as the other hands. And from then on, he was! Grandma had a quiet strength in her and she passed it along to her son.

Jack attended grade school at Grigsby school, a one room school providing for grades one through eight. He entered high school in Charleston but later transferred to Benton High School from which he graduated. It was while attending Benton High School that he met Imogene Mayfield who became his wife in August of 1950.

Shortly after Jack and Imogene were married, the Korean War was heating up, and in due course Jack received his draft notice. Upon reporting for induction to the Army, Jack was “cordially invited” to join the Marines instead of the army. How could he refuse? He was assigned to Camp Pendleton in San Diego and that is where the couple lived when their son Ronald was born.  Not long afterward, the conflict settled down enough that personnel were beginning to be allowed to be discharged. He received an honorable discharge and the couple and their “plus one” moved back to Missouri where Jack took up farming with his father.

The post war years saw the migration of many young families to higher paying jobs in the cities. The Davis’ were no different and Jack found work with McDonnell Aircraft as a machine repairman. He continued with the company (now Boeing) for about 35 years until his retirement as the superintendent over building maintenance at the St. Louis plant.

Somewhere along the way, Jack found time to serve as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Wentzville where he also taught an adult Sunday School class for many years. He also enjoyed music and was the lead singer for the Crusaders quartet for a number of years. His Bible study notes compiled over some 50 odd years of teaching have been a blessing to many and earned for him the recognition of a Doctor of Letters degree. Not bad for a country boy from southeast Missouri!

Memorials may be made in Jack's name to a charity of donor's choice.