James R Davis

James R. Davis, 72, of Lancaster, passed away Monday, February 8, 2021, at Ephraim McDowell Medical Center. His immediate family was around him in a part of the Hospital where there were no other patients. We were present for his last breath on Earth and his first breath in Heaven. We will always be thankful to the Ephraim McDowell Medical Center and to God for allowing us this wonderful blessing.

James was born on March 13, 1948, to the late Roland and Goldie Masters Davis in Boyle County. James has lived all of his life in Garrard County except the time he proudly spent in service to his beloved country. James is survived by his loving wife, Dora Sue.

James was a veteran of the United States Army. He worked for the National Casket Factory in Lancaster, KY, for almost 15 years. James worked as a dedicated board member for the Garrard County School Board for 8 yrs. while our children were in school. Lastly, he worked for the Sherwin Williams Company in Richmond, KY, for 37 years, minus 19 days, as engineering support. In James’ early years of working for Sherwin Williams he took several college classes to achieve his lifetime designation “Certified in Production and Inventory Management”.  He worked through APICS The Association for Operations Management. James always loved his work and worked hard.  This was one of the valuable lessons he learned from his daddy when they worked on Johnson Price’s farm that is where Spurlin Funeral Home now is located on Lexington Road.  

James has stayed in touch with lifelong friends from the time he entered Camp Dick Robinson Elementary School until he entered the ICU 5th Floor Covid-19 Unit. He had his phone on and with him at the time of his first emergency at the Hospital. Later, his doctor and nurse told us that an unbelievable number of messages dinged in one after another on this phone. The nurse glanced over to James’ phone and read, “We are praying for you.”  After that, there were hundreds of messages sent from his family and friends to our home over the next 2 ½ weeks. All these callers said, “We love James.”

James was not just a fantastic friend but loved his large family with all that he had. He was in charge of a large Davis family reunion for many years. A few years back, he said he was ready to go to Heaven but he wanted to have more time with his beloved grandchildren. The rest of his family members know we had a special place in his heart, but his grandkids were first.

James was baptized many years ago in a Baptist church as a widower with the love of his life, Jamie Lynn, his precious young daughter. He had lost his wife, Gale Marsee Davis, to hepatitis C that she contracted working as a dedicated nurse at the Garrard County Hospital.

Later, James blended his family with Dora Sue and Randall Kelly. Then, they blended their churches which were Faith Fellowship Charismatic Christian Church and Hyattsville Baptist Church. They joined Lancaster Christian Church as a family with both their children helping in the decision. The blended family with their blended churches became faithful, hardworking members of Lancaster Christian Church. James was asked to be an elder and later a board chairman.  He dedicated his hard work to making his Church be the best it could be. James loved his Church, and again, this group of people loved him.

Along with his wife, James is survived by a daughter, Jamie Davis Morton, of Lancaster; a stepson, Randall Kelly Stathers (Jamie Ann), of Bowling Green; four grandchildren, Emily Rose Morton, Aiden Christopher Stathers, Levi Anthony Morton, and Yesenia Miranda Davis; two brothers, Harold Tommy Davis (Verna) of Stanford and Ricky Davis (Angie) of Cartersville; and two sisters, Beverly Hunter of Lancaster and Vicki Newton of Irvine. He also claimed all of Dora Sue’s family and enjoyed many nephews and nieces on all sides. All of these were precious to him.

A funeral service will be tentatively held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 21, 2021, at Lancaster Christian Church with Rev. Dr. Robert Mallory and Minister Jiaan Burford officiating. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00pm at the Church on Saturday, February 20, 2021.

Pallbearers are Randall Kelly Stathers, Aiden Christopher Stathers, Adam Stapp, Levi Morton, Ricky Davis, Harold Tommy Davis, Ronnie Vanhook, Donnie Bailey and Mike Kirby.

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