I’ve known Jim for a long time.  We worked together, did a bit of camping and fishing, and a whole lot of just hanging out.   He was like another brother to me.   I’m going to miss our weekly visits and conversations.  

Jim, I am going to miss your wisdom on life and experiences on work.  You always helped those who asked without question.  

Jim taught me everything I know about being an electronics technician.  He helped me figure out i wanted to be a tech versus an engineer.  He also looked out for me when I was all alone in Michigan living out of my car.  He tried to offer me money at the time but when I wouldn’t take it he tricked me into accepting his generosity by taking me out to eat every Wednesday to give me a break from my ramen and canned foods. The man took care of me in so many, countless ways.  He was like my “surrogate Michigan dad” or maybe like a close, kind, uncle.  

Some things Jim liked to say often: “…to say the least”, “it dawned on me…”, “let the tool do the work for you”, “…kind of stuff”.  The guy could spend 20-30 minutes telling a 2 minute story, sometimes telling the same story over again, having forgotten he told it.

Near the end of his career, Jim started slacking off a bit, watching YouTube videos when there wasn’t any work to be done.  Then when someone would come into the lab, he’d panic a little, quickly close the YouTube tab, and exclaim their name.  I always got a kick out of that, especially because I don’t think he knew that I knew.

Up until the end, I still made sure to e-mail him about once a month to update him on my life and to check in with how he was doing (and whether or not he was using his bicycle or if he found anything good on Netflix to watch).  I will forever  miss that guy.

It was my pleasure to meet Jim this past Holiday Season at the home of his sister and brother-in-law Mary and Rick Featherston.  We enjoyed a meal and conversation together.  My condolences to the family.

Here's some other things people may or may not know about Jim.

He wasn't just a Star Trek enthusiast, he liked all sorts of sci-fi -- Doctor Who, The Orville, Westworld, to name a few.

He also had brilliant and creative mechanical skills -- skills that I can only hope to one day live up to based on all he's taught me.

Jim was a man who could spend twenty to thirty minutes telling a two minute story.

Near the end of his career, Jim started slacking off at work a bit, watching YouTube videos when there was nothing going on.  When someone would come into the lab, he would quickly close the YouTube tab on his computer and exclaim their name.  I always got a kick out of that, because I don't think he ever knew that I knew that's what he was doing.

Here are some commonly used phrases Jim liked to say:
"It dawned on me..."
"...to say the least"
"...kind of stuff"
"Let the tool do the work for you."

My sympathies to family and friends. Jim was like an older brother to my husband and I. We all meet years ago at work. The last 15 years we have shared many holidays with Jim. Oh, and the laughter, beer and good conversations too!

When Jim retired, I had to make sure I did something extra special for him.  At work one day, when he wasn't looking, I snapped pics on my phone of all his old racing photos.   Then I spent about a week or two painting them all into a collage for his retirement gift.  It's still not enough.  There will never be anything I can do that will ever be enough to repay Jim for all that he did for me.

Jim taught me pretty much everything I know about being an Electronics Technician.  If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be where I am today.   When I was all alone out in Michigan, and he found out I was living out of my car, he offered to give me money to help me out.  I wouldn't take his offer, but he tricked me into accepting his generosity anyway by taking me out to eat for lunch every Wednesday.  That's just a couple of the many things he did for me.  In short, the man looked out for me.  He was like my "surrogate Michigan dad" or maybe a very close and kind uncle.

Jim was the big brother I never had.  Growing up with his sister, Mary, and spending time at the family home in Rochester or at Skidway Lake, we were always surrounded by family and friends.  Mary and I were outnumbered by Jim's friends who would gather at the Davis home, but we enjoyed  hours of bantering back and forth and laughter.  Their Mom and Dad were my second parents and I will always treasure the memories of all us sitting in the living room enjoying each other's company.
 My prayers and sympathy extend to all the family and friends who remember the infectious laugh of Jim.  May those memories of Jim comfort you as you close out this chapter of Jim's life.  Love you all!!!


OBITUARY

James "Jim" R. Davis

December 23, 1947 – April 13, 2023

Pixley Funeral Home - John Desmond Chapel

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