James Vernon Davis

Jim was born January 28, 1928 in Leachville, AR, the 3rd of 10 children. He grew up in Leachville, moving to Missouri for a short time with his family. He attended school through the 8th grade while working on farms with his dad, picking and chopping cotton. After grade school he worked full-time on different farms to help support his family.

At the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Army and served for two years, mostly in the Philippines. After returning home, he married JoNell Mansell and they had two children. In 1949, he moved his family to Michigan where he worked in construction and drove trucks for 10 years. In 1959, he moved the family to California and went to work for Universal Laminates in Van Nuys, building cabinets. He worked for them for 10 years before buying the company. He sold the company and retired in 1982 and moved back to Leachville, AR where he continued to build houses among other things. He purchased 80 acres of farmland in Leachville which he leases out. Cotton, soy beans and peanuts are grown on the land.

His wife, JoNell, passed away in 1994 and he came to California to visit his daughter who introduced him to her boss, Carol Sullivan. He married Carol in April, 1995 and they moved back to Leachville and traveled all over the United States, Canada and Alaska in various RVs, enjoying recreation and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.

In June of 2000, Jim and Carol moved to Hemet, CA where they lived in Valle Vista for 13 years and continued to travel. They attended Valley Community Church where Jim was active in construction and improvements to his church. Jim’s mobility began to decline in 2013 and they moved to Brookdale Sunwest where they enjoyed independent living for 6 years and then moved to assisted living in October 2019.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John and Rosa Davis, sisters, Esoline Norman, Classeta Wheeler, Daisy Pillow and Carlon Routon, two brothers, Marlon Davis and Bobby Davis, and his wife, JoNell.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Davis, two children, James Anthony Davis and Melisa Jo Haggai, two sisters, Len Burdge and Duxie Statler, one brother, Bud Davis, 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

A private family visitation and service will be held on Thursday, June 11 from 1-2 p.m. at the Miller-Jones Mortuary Chapel in Hemet, CA. The service will follow at 2 p.m., Miller-Jones livestreamed the event, click on the following link to view the service. Link: James Vernon Davis, age 92, of Hemet, CA passed away at his home on June 7, 2020.

Jim was born January 28, 1928 in Leachville, AR, the 3rd of 10 children. He grew up in Leachville, moving to Missouri for a short time with his family. He attended school through the 8th grade while working on farms with his dad, picking and chopping cotton. After grade school he worked full-time on different farms to help support his family.

At the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Army and served for two years, mostly in the Philippines. After returning home, he married JoNell Mansell and they had two children. In 1949, he moved his family to Michigan where he worked in construction and drove trucks for 10 years. In 1959, he moved the family to California and went to work for Universal Laminates in Van Nuys, building cabinets. He worked for them for 10 years before buying the company. He sold the company and retired in 1982 and moved back to Leachville, AR where he continued to build houses among other things. He purchased 80 acres of farmland in Leachville which he leases out. Cotton, soy beans and peanuts are grown on the land.

His wife, JoNell, passed away in 1994 and he came to California to visit his daughter who introduced him to her boss, Carol Sullivan. He married Carol in April, 1995 and they moved back to Leachville and traveled all over the United States, Canada and Alaska in various RVs, enjoying recreation and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.

In June of 2000, Jim and Carol moved to Hemet, CA where they lived in Valle Vista for 13 years and continued to travel. They attended Valley Community Church where Jim was active in construction and improvements to his church. Jim’s mobility began to decline in 2013 and they moved to Brookdale Sunwest where they enjoyed independent living for 6 years and then moved to assisted living in October 2019.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, John and Rosa Davis, sisters, Esoline Norman, Classeta Wheeler, Daisy Pillow and Carlon Routon, two brothers, Marlon Davis and Bobby Davis, and his wife, JoNell.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Davis, two children, James Anthony Davis and Melisa Jo Haggai, two sisters, Len Burdge and Duxie Statler, one brother, Bud Davis, 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

A private family visitation and service will be held on Thursday, June 11 from 1-2 p.m. at the Miller-Jones Mortuary Chapel in Hemet, CA. The service will follow at 2 p.m. Miller-Jones livestreamed the event, click on the following link to view the service. Link: https://vimeo.com/427442466/9d6970bcd6