James U. Davis' Obituary
James Utley (Jim) Davis, 94, passed away on Saturday December 7th, at The Haven in Highland Creek after a long period of declining health. He was the son of the late Arthur Alander Davis and Blandena Utley Davis of the Croft community in Mecklenburg County.
Jim graduated from Huntersville High School in 1938 and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was part of the 4th Air Depot Group within the 5th US Air Force based in Townsville, Australia and on Biak Island. While in the Army, Jim made many life-long friends whom he visited and with whom he kept in contact for many years. Along with many of his friends in the Army, Jim was introduced to table tennis. He played the game as often as he had a chance, building his own table after he built his house. He participated in Senior Games for many years.
In 1947 Jim married Rosa Hucks, one of the six Hucks girls, who lived just a half mile down the railroad. Rosa was born in 1927 and had “grown up” while Jim was in the Pacific. Jim and Rosa were both members of Independence Hill Baptist Church before their marriage and remained members until their deaths. They were active members and held many positions in the church over the years; Jim taught Sunday School and was a Deacon.
Soon after his discharge from the Army after World War II, Jim began farming the family property on Hucks Road in the Croft community. He had known from an early age that farming would be his life work and he intended to do it right. Jim applied the best farming practices to his cropland, his dairy herd, and to his garden. Having seen the general deterioration of local farmland during The Great Depression, Jim gave special attention to soil conservation on his farm. His efforts were recognized by local soil and water conservation organizations. Jim continued to work in his garden almost to his ninetieth birthday. Most of his farm is now part of Clarks Creek Nature Preserve. Jim was on the Board of Directors for the Mecklenburg County Farm Bureau for many years, serving a few years as President.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Rosa Hucks Davis, in 1995. He was also preceded in death by brothers David Davis, Oran Davis, Earl H. Davis, Thomas A. Davis and Alfred Davis; and by sisters Agnes Knox and Polly Earnhardt. Jim is survived by his children, Janette Coyle (Tom) and Gerald Davis (Mary Beth); by five grandchildren, Amy Redies (Jamie), Alma Coyle (Justin), Eric Coyle (Jackie), Patrick Davis (Karen), and James Davis; and by four great grandchildren, Kendall, Ariana, and Ava Grace Redies and Cade Coyle. Jim is also survived by his brother, Whit Davis (Mary Neal), sister, Lottie D. Campbell, and special friend, Ruth Snodgrass.
A service to celebrate the life of Jim Davis will be held Wednesday, December 11, 2013, at 11:00 am at Independence Hill Baptist Church, Huntersville, NC, in the Worship Center. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be at 10:00 am in the IHBC Family Life Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Building Fund of Independence Hill Baptist Church (10220 Independence Hill Road, Huntersville, NC 28078), Charlotte Mecklenburg Senior Games, Inc. (2225 Tyvola Road, Charlotte, NC 28210), or Hospice & Palliative Care Lake Norman (705 Griffith Street, Suite 203, Davidson, NC 28036).
James Funeral Home of Huntersville, NC is serving the family.
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