DAVIS, JAMES N. M.
Gallipolis – James N. M. Davis, 86, of Gallipolis, died Sunday morning, December 3, 2000 at Holzer Senior Care Center.
Born May 26, 1914 in Bladen, Gallia County, Ohio, he was the son of the late William Marcus Davis and the late Nora Bell Chick Davis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded by his stepmother Eunice Ann Holley Davis, a daughter Jan Karen Davis, a son James N. M. Davis Jr., who, while serving in the United States Air Force was killed in Germany, brother Marcus Davis, sister Mae Fields and by a half-sister Lorene Sheets.
After graduating from Mercerville High School, he attended Rio Grande College. He later started his teaching career in Bladen, and later Mercerville School. On July 15, 1938, he entered the CCC as a 2nd Lieutenant, and was assigned to the CCC Camp at Fox Lake, Illinois. In 1940 he completed the Junior Course for the United States Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia. In 1941 he was sent to the Pacific Theater where he served in the 2nd Raider Battalion (known as Carlson’s Raiders). He returned home in 1946 and completed the Instr. Orientation Course. From then until 1953 he served at military bases stretching from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States.
From 1949 until 1953 he was the Executive Officer of the ROTC program at Ohio State University.
In 1953 he completed Command and General College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he also completed Instr. and Special Weapons Courses during that time.
From 1953 through 1955 he continued serving at various military bases. In 1955 he went to Korea where he served the next 18 months as a Liaison Officer traveling between Japan and China.
After returning home in 1957 he was the Regimental Executive Officer at Camp Pendleton, California, he served in this position until his retirement from the Marine Corps on November 5, 1958. He retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
During his military career he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat V, The Navy Commendation, a Presidential Unit Citation, the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the China Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
Upon returning to Gallia County in 1958 he began teaching again and was named assistant principal of Gallia Academy High School. During this time he was completing his degree in educational administration at Ohio University. Upon receiving his degree, he was named principal of Gallia Academy High School, he continued in this position until his retirement in 1979. He went on to serve eight years on the Gallipolis City School Board.
He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 27, VFW Post 4464, The Raider Association, Gallipolis Teachers Association, The Ohio Association of Secondary Principals, and was a former member and Past President of the Gallipolis Lions Club.
He is survived by his wife, Ester Helen Paulson Davis, whom he married on August 12, 1940; one son, William Alan (Linda) Davis, of Datona Beach, Florida; two grandchildren from the son’s previous marriage to Sally J. Lease, James Richard Davis of Houston, Texas, and Christa Ann (Robby) Danieli of Big Spring, Texas; one great-grandson, Tyler James Daniel; one brother, Elgin Davis of Detroit, Michigan; one half-brother, Randall Davis of Middleport; two half-sisters, Vera Ross of Gallipolis, and Linda (Bill) Chase of Richmond, Va., and several other family members including nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, December 9, 2000 at Christ United Methodist Church with Pastors Jim Snyder and John Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in Mound Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at Waugh-Halley-Wood funeral home on Friday, December 8, 2000 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., and at the church on Saturday one hour prior to services. Military honors will be conducted at the graveside by the United States Marine Corps. Pallbearers will be James R. Davis, Elgin Lee Davis, Randall Davis, Richard (Ricky) Davis, Wally Singer, and Russell Lee (Rusty) Denney. Honorary pallbearers will be Elgin Davis, Richard Davis, Basil Holley, Joe Carter, William Chase, Meredith Davis, Harold L. Davis, Wilbert Church and Tom Davis.