James "Jim" M. Davis Jr.

James M. Davis, Jr. was born on August 16, 1939 in San Antonio, Texas and died April 16, 2013 at home. He was known by a great many names – Jimmy, Dad, ZD, Dogman, Jim, Davis and Pop. He answered to them all.

He married Josie on January 7, 1962. Jim was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Sanford, Florida. The story he told his children for how they met goes that he knocked her down at the skating rink and made her cry. He asked her to stop crying, and she said she would if he married her. They celebrated 51 years together, and Josie was with him to the end.

Jim served in the Navy for 4 years and 4 months. His time in the Navy was extended because of the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served aboard the USS Independence. He was a sea sick sailor and refused to set aboard another ship after he was discharged. After the Navy, he was a theater manager and district manager for the Orlando Sentinel. In 1971, Jim was accepted into the air traffic controllers program. He retired after 40 years and one month of government service.

Whether it was dog shows every weekend, computers – morning, noon and night, shopping for a bargain, checking out the Friday Fry’s ad, researching his family tree or his medical conditions, Jim always went full in. Jim loved his sweets – the gooier the better. He never went anywhere without his Alka-Seltzer and he was the only person that we knew that added ice to it. He brought the messiest thing to eat from the drive–thru window and his car was always a cluttered mess. He never put anything away. He was always asking where his wallet, keys, sunglasses and phone were. He could never remember where he put anything and was always quite sure that we moved it but it was usually right where he left it. We will miss this all.

Jim was a family man. He loved his children. He was over-the-moon for his grandchildren, Audrey and Alex. He talked to his brother and sister every day. He thought of his Mikler family as his own. Jim never met a stranger and was a friend to all.

Jim was a medical mess. If you asked him how he was – he always answered “I’m just fine.” Jim never complained. He handled it all with dignity and a certain amount of denial. His positive attitude gave strength to us all. He was a good patient in the hospital and in the doctor’s office. Jim knew what to do but fell short of implementation. Jim always said he had the best doctors and nurses. We are especially grateful to Drs. David Terreson and Byron Welch who took such good care of him -- which was no easy task! Dr. Mark Dalton made it possible for him to walk again. The techs and nurses at the Round Rock Satellite Dialysis center were with him every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the early hours of the day. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all who cared for Jim throughout the years.

Jim is survived by his wife, Josie, his children Terri Rose, Jim Davis and wife Linda, Deborah Griesbach and husband Tom, his grandchildren Audrey Rose and Alex Griesbach whom were his pride and joy, brother Marshall Davis and wife Martha, sister Dorothy Guerra, sister-in-laws Katherine “George” Mikler and Shirley “Shush” Madison, brother-in law Raymond Mikler and wife Marg, his brother from another mother, Herman Harrison and wife Brenda, numerous nieces and nephews and friends.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock until seven o’clock in the evening, on Sunday, the 21st of April 2013, at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas. A funeral service will be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 22nd of April 2013, King of Kings Lutheran Church in Round Rock, Texas with Pastors Richard Mittwede and James Craver officiating.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to King of Kings Church, St. Judes Children Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, American Heart Association or a charity of choice.

Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.