Only child of Homer R. and Laura Happer Davis, Jim was born in Kansas City on March 24, 1920.
Deciding early on a military career, Jim joined ROTC in high school and Naval Reserves after graduation. He attended KC Junior College for 2 years before he tested into the Naval Academy. He graduated in 1942 and married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth (Bunny) Timberlake, on graduation day. These two then embarked on a naval career, with Jim first going off to fight in WWII on destroyers in the Pacific. Afterwards he went through flight training to become a Navy pilot and later as a defense intelligence analyst. During these early years, he and Bunny had two daughters, Byrdell and Lee. Jim ended his naval career at OU NROTC and they retired happily among many friends in Norman, Oklahoma.
Jim was active in many organizations in Norman, including Kiwanis for over fifty years, McFarlin Methodist Church, Ambassadors for Norman Chamber of Commerce, reading for the blind, gourmet groups, and TROA. Jim and Bunny also spent their retirement traveling the world and meeting family and friends many times in Cancun and Kansas City. Jim was sentimental and brilliant with a marvelous memory. He knew and loved history and enjoyed testing family with math problems. He served his country, his community, and his friends and family his whole life. Jim was first a devoted son, then a loving husband and father, a patriot, and an honorable man.
Jim is survived by his two daughters, Byrdell Bury (Robert) and Lee Goethe (Robert); six grandchildren, Aimee Bury, Deborah Bury, Shelley Goethe Vittorino (Paul), Jon Bury (Emily), Allison Goethe Pace (Matthew), and Tim Bury; as well as three great-grandchildren, Harriet, Warren, and Penelope.
Visitation from 12:00pm to 1:00pm followed by a 1:00pm service on Tuesday, January 15th, at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri.
