John "Jack" B.N. Davis

John (Jack) B. N. Davis, age 87, died on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at his home at The Cottages at River House in Salisbury, Maryland. Jack is survived by his three sons F. Kelly Davis (Sheila), Noah Davis (Kathryn) and Thomas Davis (Susan), a brother-in-law, Frank L. Kelly and nephews Tony, Philip and Matthew Schumacher and families. Jack was born on May 5, 1933 in Minor’s Mills, Pennsylvania to Anna Burke Davis and Noah Davis. The family resided in Parsons, Pennsylvania; the family included Jack’s sister, Jean Davis Schumacher who died in 2018. John was raised Roman Catholic and remained a devout Catholic until his passing.

Jack grew up at 219 Gardener Ave. His father, Noah Davis, started the family painting and paperhanging business which he and Anna managed for many years. While in school, Jack worked for his father to learn the painting and paperhanging business for residential homes. Jack graduated from Coughlin High School in 1951 and with his father, the business became Noah Davis & Son Painting & Paperhanging.

In the late 1950’s, Jack and his father built a summer cottage on Lakeview Terrace at Harvey’s Lake for himself and built a cottage across the street for his sister, Jean and her family. In 1959, Jack attended a blind date with Mary Agnes Kelly of Forty-Fort, Pennsylvania. Mary, a former Navy Veteran, was home working at Valley Vending of Wilkes-Barre as the owner’s secretary. Jack married Mary Kelly on April 8, 1961. The couple resided at 221 Gardener Ave, Parsons, Pennsylvania, next door to Jack’s mother and father. Shortly after their marriage, the family business became John B. N Davis Painting & Paperhanging. Jack’s father remained working with Jack until his death in 1976. Mary was a homemaker and bookkeeper for the family business. Jack and Mary have three sons; F. Kelly born in 1962, Noah born in 1963 and Thomas born in 1965. Jack and Mary loved Harvey’s Lake where Jack enjoyed working on his yard, expanding his cottage into a home, all while enjoying the summer months at the Lakeview Terrace dock, avidly golfing and enjoying the friendships from neighbor families. Eventually, in 1976, Jack and his family moved to Harvey’s Lake for year-round living. While raising three children through high school, Jack and Mary volunteered their time with the Lake-Lehman Band Sponsor Association. Jack would be President of the Band Sponsors, assisting in fund raising to assure the students could travel throughout the east coast for tournaments of bands. In addition, Jack enjoyed his painting and paperhanging business, deer hunting, golfing and watching the New York Yankees. In 1983, Jack and Mary became avid Penn State University Football fans while also watching their son Tom who was in the Penn State Blue Band. Jack and Mary attended Penn State home football games from 1984 thru 1998.

Jack’s family began expanding in 1989 as his son Noah married Kathryn Hogue from Corning, NY. They have three children, Noah, Sean and Kelsie. His son Thomas married Susan Williams from Princess Anne, Maryland in 1991. They have two daughters, Bethany and Emily. Bethany married Collin Denton from Salisbury, NC in 2017 and they have a toddler son named Burke. Kelly married Sheila Malahowski from Larksville, Pennsylvania in 2006; Sheila has a son Joey who also became a member of the family. Jack and Mary closed the Painting & Paperhanging business and retired to Lakeland, Florida living at Heatherwood Village in September 1999. While in Florida, Jack continued painting on a part-time basis while also enjoying his gardens, golfing and the friendship of his sister Jean and Billy Schumacher who lived in Florida. Then in December 2009, Jack and Mary moved to Salisbury, Maryland to continue retirement at The Cottages at River House while also living close to their son, Thomas (Tom) and his family. The move from Florida also meant more frequent visits and holidays with his sons Kelly and Noah and their families as well as an occasional visit for a Penn State football game in State College, Pennsylvania.

Jack was always very supportive of his wife Mary, her volunteerism, patriotism and love for the American flag. Jack’s favorite colors were blue and white; his favorite annual flowers were impatiens which he grew to huge mounds with the help of Miracle Grow. As an older adult, Jack survived colon cancer however his biggest challenge was when Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. For ten years, Jack faithfully and superbly cared for Mary at their home in Salisbury, Maryland. Jack provided a wonderful life for Mary and his three sons; encouraging their advanced educations. After Mary’s death on April 25, 2019, Jack continued his daily devotion to St. Francis de Sale Catholic Church while living independently at The Cottages at River House. Jack died unexpectedly at his home after a day of grocery shopping, napping in his favorite chair and talking on the phone with his sons.

A funeral mass will be announced in the coming days at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 535 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, Maryland. A gravesite ceremony for both Jack and Mary Davis will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in the spring of 2021.

Dearest Dad, we are so grateful for the life you provided for mom and our family. We will think of you daily, pray for you and mom and always remember your love for us, the Catholic Church, Penn State and the New York Yankees. We will miss you until we meet again. We love you, Kelly, Noah & Thomas.