James Cuttino Davis, Jr., passed away on December 17, 2014, at age 83. He was born on December 19, 1930, to James Cuttino Davis, Sr., and Clara Player Davis in Columbia, SC. He married Louise Clark Sharp Davis in the Salt Lake Temple on November 21st, fifty-six years ago. They are the parents of five children: Karen Davis, Mary Ellen Naylor (John), Matthew Davis, Ann Marie Walker (Tain), and Stephen Davis (Cara). They have twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Dixie Valeen Davis, and two infant older brothers. He is survived by his siblings Miriam E. Martin (Robert), Jean Hansen (Lynn), Annette Graves (Charles), William (Lia), and Wayne (Annette).
James graduated from West High School and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He graduated from Utah State University and then the University of Utah with a Master's Degree in social work. He spent his career first at the Primary Children's Hospital and then serving his fellow veterans and their families at three VA hospitals, finally as the Chief of Social Work Services at the VA Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, where he worked for twenty-three years. While in Missouri, James served as Bishop of the Columbia Ward and as Stake President of the Missouri Columbia Stake. Upon retirement, James and Louise returned to Salt Lake, where he served again as a Bishop and as a Temple Worker. He especially enjoyed playing golf with his brothers and dear friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 20, 2014, at 12 p.m. in the Salt Lake Ensign Stake Center, 135 A Street, Salt Lake City. A visitation will be held the prior evening at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, at 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and at the ward from 10:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Church General Temple Patron Assistance Fund (http://www.lodsphilanthropies.org/temple/funds/temple-patrons-fund.html).
