Jack Davis

WEAVERVILLE - John “Jack” Watson Davis, age 91, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville on Sunday, March 20, 2022.

Jack was born in Sylva, NC and was a lifelong resident of Buncombe County.  He loved these Western North Carolina mountains. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Whitney E. and Pearl A. Davis, his beloved stepmother Mae Ivey Adams Davis, sister Elizabeth (Bit) Lawson Spruill, brothers Whitney Egerton Davis, Jr and Leland A. Davis.

He is survived by his loving wife, Connie Buckner Davis; and his four “knotheads” - one of whom turned out ok: Donna Davis (Stephen Rennell) of Asheville, Jeff (Donna) Davis of Greer, SC, DeAnna (Scott) Shelley of Conway, SC, and Lt. Col. Darrell (Allison) Davis of Kennebunk, ME; his wonderful grandchildren, Kayla Hendricks, Hannah McKinley, Robert & Lucy Davis, Sam Shelley, Fletcher Crean, Flynn Crean, and his “adopted” Canadian grandson, Dr. Andrew Dargie. He is also survived by his former wife, Shirley G. Davis.

Jack was a 1948 graduate of Lee H. Edwards High School and proudly served his Country in the US Air Force where he served as a Technical Sergeant and crewman on a B-50. His service in the Air Force contributed to his lifelong love of flying, a love he passed on to his sons.

Jack was graduated from Florida State University earning a Bachelors of Science Degree in Industrial Psychology in 1957. After graduation he was a prison psychologist at Apalachee Correctional Facility in Chattahoochee, FL.  He returned to Western North Carolina with his family in 1962 to begin his 30-year career as Associate Director of the Asheville Buncombe County Industrial Education Center (A-B Tech). He later became Director of Student Personnel and retired in 1992 while serving as Vice President for Student Services.

During his tenure at A-B Tech, Jack chaired the Little Bitty Committee composed of members of the North and South Carolina Community College systems. He was invited to testify numerous times before the House and Senate Committees for Veterans Affairs. Their testimony resulted in legislative changes that positively impacted the educational benefits of our country’s veterans.

Jack enjoyed golf, baseball, fishing, hunting and whitewater rafting. He served as a scorer for the Masters Tournament for over 30 years. He loved traveling throughout the western U.S., Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Alaska, Antarctica, and Artic where he met and developed a lifelong relationship with Dr. Andrew Dargie, who was 15 years old at the time. Of all of the things he enjoyed, he most loved his immediate family, his extended Davis family, and Class of ‘48 reunions. 

The family expresses deep gratitude to the compassionate staff on the MICU unit at the VA hospital and to Dr. Andrew Dargie who advised in his care. 

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville, 30 North Alabama Ave, Weaverville. Reverend Brian Buckner will officiate.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 10:00AM at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Boys Town, the Shriners Hospital, or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.