JAMES THROWER DAVIS

DAVIS, James Thrower,age 79, of Lowndesboro,Alabama, died at homeon Sunday, July 5, 2009. Hewas born March 5, 1930, in St.James Township, Missouri, tothe late Lillard and ClaraThrower Davis of East Prairie,Missouri. He graduated fromEast Prairie High School inEast Prairie, Missouri in 1948.He played as an offensive/defensive lineman on the undefeated East Prairie HighSchool Football squad andwas named to the All-Southeast Missouri District FootballTeam. On November 27,1949, he was united in marriage to Monda Lue Cantwell,daughter of the late Richardand Opal Cantwell of Dorena, Missouri. Jim served as aPrivate in the Missouri National Guard and as a Sergeantin the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He wasstationed in Quantico, Virginia, and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.After leaving the military in1953, Monda and Jim movedtheir family to Wardell, Missouri where he worked as abutcher for the IGA. Two yearslater, the Davis family returned to East Prairie and Jimbegan farming with his father-in-law, Richard, in Dorena.Jim later farmed with his sonsin East Prairie and in 1983 became the Manager of The Bitashomee Plantation in Lowndes County, Alabama. Inthe late 1980's, the AlabamaCattleman's Associationawarded him the Father ofthe Year Award. In 1990, Jimbegan working for QualityNetworks, Incorporated, forhis son and daughter-in-law,Jim and Kara Shea Davis,where his co-workers andfriends affectionately referredto him as ""Mr. D."" He retiredfrom Quality Networks in 2008.Jim was a member of the FirstChristian Church of EastPrairie, a member of Farm Bureau and the Alabama Cattleman's Association. ""Grandjim"" enjoyed fishing, watching his children and grandchildren's school activities,joining the ""liar's table"" at hislocal diner each morning forbreakfast, and most of all,spending time with his largefamily, and loving wife, Monda. Those who knew him enjoyed his cracking sense ofhumor and his good-naturedteasing. James Thrower Davis is survived by his wife of 59 years,Monda Lue Cantwell Davis;his daughters and sons-in-law, Marlys and Lloyd Smith,Sikeston, MO, Marcia andRalph Hamor, Mahomet, IL;his sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Kara Shea Davis, Wetumpka, AL, Dart andKarla Davis, Lowndesboro, AL,Bryan and Charlotte Sue Davis, Charleston, MO, and Debbie Davis, Wetumpka, AL; 16grandchildren, Trista, Samand Tiffany Smith, Alia (Steve)Martin and Sage Davis, Shelley (Danny) Hansen, Blakeand Ryan Davis, TashicaMims, Travis (Bobby Sue) andNathan Davis, Mason Davisand Kayla Rayburn, Chandler and Davis Hamor; 10great- grandchildren, Jolee,Kira, Jase and Lexi Martin, Tyler and Alyssa Hansen, Tamyia Mims, Angelique Davis,Lauren and Nathan Davis. He is further survived by twobrothers and a sister-in-law,L.D. and Charlene Davis, EastPrairie, MO and Tom Davis,Marietta, GA; two sisters, Freda Dill, East Prairie MO. andBette Sorrells, Sikeston, MO;nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. In addition to his parents, he waspreceded in death by a sisterVera Grady, son, Brent Davis,granddaughter, Joli Davis,and grandson, Adam Davis. A Celebration of Life Servicewill be held at the First Christian Church in East Prairie,Missouri on July 25 at 2:00P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can bemade to the LowndesboroMethodist Church or the FirstChristian Church in EastPrairie. The family would like to thankthe compassionate staff ofBaptist Medical Center Southand Baptist Home HealthCare.