James Davidson

James (Uncle Jimmy or J.J.) Davidson was born in Ft. Worth, Texas, on July 12, 1918. He went to be with the Lord on January 26, 2022, at the age of 103 1/2 years young in the comfort of his home. J.J.’s parent were William Henry Davidson and Lois Rountree. William, Jimmy’s father, was born 1859 prior to the end of the Civil War.

J.J. enjoyed a full life of cross-country train hoping, met 4 different U.S. Presidents, the President of Cuba (Batista), and cooked for General Patton. While hitch-hiking, he was picked up by Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Jimmy’s roommate in boot camp was Donald O’Connor (actor from Singing in the Rain). He was also picked up, while hitch-hiking by bank robber John Dillinger, as a decoy to evade police immediately following a bank heist in Oklahoma. He loved to write poetry, play his harmonica, yodel, play dominos/cards and wrote several short stories including a Christmas story about a little wingless bird that he would read every year.

Jimmy served in the United States Army Aircorp during WWII stationed in England, Italy and participated in the invasion of North Africa. He received multiple metals of honor & loved to tell stories of his war days.

James Jack Davidson married Bette Lou Bonham on June 14, 1946 at Rosenheights Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, Texas. Jimmy graduated from Texas Wesleyan College in 1948 with honors, while not having more than an 8th grade education. He was the president of 2 fraternities and named the “Prince of Posture”. Jimmy was in sales most of his life. Jimmy has spent the last several years hand-writing the memoirs of his life.

J.J. and Bette had three birth children and 1 foster son. James is survived by Marla (Sidney- deceased) Lanier of Clovis, NM; Marcus (Dawn) Davidson of Ft. Worth, TX; Chris (Vickie) Davidson of Lindsay, OK; and foster son Paul (Kay) Hill of Carlsbad, NM. J.J. is survived by 16 grandkids, 25 great-grandkids, and 15 great-great-grandkids & one on the way. In his own words, “I am BLESSED beyond measure!”

J.J.’s celebration of life will be held Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 10:00 am at Living Stones Nazarene Church, 1800 N. Norris St., Clovis, NM 88101. The family will host a viewing at Steed Todd Funeral Home (Clovis) from 4-8 pm on January 31, 2022. His burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Ft. Worth, on February 5th at 2:00 pm.