James Gordon Davis

James “Jim” Gordon Davis, 80, died peacefully in his home Monday, September 1, 2014, after a lengthy illness. He was born May 10, 1934 in Opelousas, Louisiana to George Leland Davis and Eden Carron Davis. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy where he proudly served our country from 1952 through 1956. Jim married Barbara Ann Lomax, on December 27, 1954 in Houston and after being discharged from the Navy, settled in Louisiana where he and Barbara started their family. Jim, Barbara and family moved to Longview in 1965, where Jim went to work at the Schlitz Brewery. He was a maintenance supervisor and shop steward until he retired. He then devoted his full attention to Jim Davis Construction until 1997 when he began to enjoy full retired life. He moved his family to the Spring Hill area in 1966, where all his children attended and graduated from Spring Hill School and where he continued to live until his passing. Though Jim accomplished many things in his life, he was most proud of his family whom he loved to be around through his last day. Those left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 59 years, Barbara Davis, son and daughter-in-law, Leland “Lee” and Laura Davis, daughters, Sheryl Davis, Cindy Patterson and husband, Bob, Elizabeth Neeley and husband, Greg, and Leslie Novy and husband Scott, all of Longview. He is also survived by many grandchildren, Lindsay Killian, Amanda Davis Williams, Brooke Davis Poole, Demi Davis, Luke Handy, Taylor Handy, Allyson Handy, Ami Haygood, Alex Dillinger, Nicholas Novy, Meredith Novy, Carmen Basinger, Juliet Cockrell and Melissa McCarthy, along with many great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces whom he all loved dearly. Jim is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Vernon and Bernice Davis of Sulfur, Louisiana, and sisters, Lois Tillman of Sulfur, Louisiana and Vivian Arnold of Longview. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Leland Dwight Davis, and sister, Juanita Morrow. A rosary for Jim will be held at Rader Funeral Home in Longview at 5:30 pm, Wednesday, September 3, 2014, after which the family will greet friends and well wishers until 8 pm. A Mass for Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Longview on Thursday, September 4, 2014. Burial will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens. The family would like to thank all those who helped with Jim’s care in recent years as his health continued to decline, especially to the nurses and staff personnel with Beacon Hospice as well as many other great care givers and therapists who came into the Davis home over the past year to help Jim. A special thanks to those special health care givers who lived in Jim’s neighborhood that went out of their way to check on Jim and Barbara even when not actively involved with his treatment. Words cannot express the family’s gratitude for your help. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the charity of your choice in honor of Jim Davis.

James Gordon Davis

May 10, 1934 - September 1, 2014