James "Dick" R Davis

Obituary for James R (Dick) Davis
Dick Davis, 67, died August 9, 2017 at Dobson Home, a hospice facility in Chandler, Arizona. He courageously fought esophageal cancer for two and a half years. He was born on March 18, 1950 in Coaldale, PA. He grew up in the town of Tamaqua, PA, attended Tamaqua Area High School, then graduated from Perkiomen Prep School in Pennsburg, PA in 1969. After graduation, he studied at Penn State University for 2 years and graduated from Simmons School of Mortuary Science in Syracuse, NY in 1972. After doing his apprenticeship in Allentown, PA at Weber Funeral Home, Dick returned to Tamaqua and went into the family business, working closely with his father at The Davis Funeral Home. In 1974, he married Janice Harding, his wife of 43 years. In Tamaqua, he was very active in many community and civic organizations including: Elks, Jaycees, Lions Club, and the Tamaqua Masonic Lodge. He was also a member of the Primitive Methodist Church in Tamaqua.
After the birth of his two children, the family moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1980. Dick began work at Messenger Mortuary in Scottsdale and then went to work for Batesville Casket Company. His territory was the Pacific Northwest. He moved his family to Vancouver, Washington in 1982. In 1986 the Davises returned to Arizona. Dick continued to work in the funeral industry with Batesville and in 1993 he began working for Federated Funeral Director’s of America. He retired from FFDA in December of 2014. While living in Arizona he was a member of Scottsdale United Methodist Church, Dayspring UMC and currently is a member of Journey UMC in Maricopa.
Dick loved skiing and was proud of being a ski instructor at a young age. He loved to teach young children how to ski. He also taught Jan and they enjoyed a skiing honeymoon in Utah. He enjoyed coaching his own children in soccer, basketball and baseball for many of their formative years. Dick also loved golf, a passion he shared with his Dad. One of his favorite days was spent on the course at Pebble Beach. Dick loved sports and sporting events. Growing up in Pennsylvania, he was an Eagles, Phillies, and Penn State fan. Later, he became an ASU supporter and avid Seahawks fan. Spring training with the Oakland A’s was always a favorite family activity. As a friend of Joe Maddon, he followed the Cubs to their World Series Championship last year.
Dick’s passion for helping people made those around him feel like family. He found connections with everyone. When you were in his presence, he made you feel like you were the most important person to him. His greatest joys in life were his children and grandchildren. He was known for his unselfish generosity. He loved to give, wanting nothing more in return than to "Pass it Forward". He also had a passion for travel. Dick and Jan traveled extensively, renewing old ties and making new connections wherever they went.
Dick is survived by his wife, Janice; his two children, Marty Deeken and son-in-law Jim of San Francisco, CA and James Davis and daughter-in-law Kim of San Jose, CA; his grandchildren, Thomas and Kate Davis, and Dominic and Abby Deeken; and his brothers Tom Davis of Las Vegas, NV, and Jack Davis of San Francisco, CA and Cowbridge, Wales. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Jane Davis.
A celebration of Dick’s life will be held on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 3 pm at J. Warren Funeral Services, 525 N Peart Road, in Casa Grande.
Memorial contributions may be made to SALGI.org/donate, a nonprofit organization devoted to esophageal cancer research or by mail, PO Box 1912, East Greenwich, RI 02818 (Please includeDick’s name) or to Journey UMC/behalf of Dick Davis, PO Box 684, Maricopa, AZ 85139.