Jason Davis

Jason Eric Davis of Tampa, Fla., passed away on March 4, 2025. He had turned 56 two days earlier.
He is survived by his mother, Joan Davis of Blue Ridge, Ga.; daughters Colleen Davis of Gainesville, Fla., Natalie Davis of Tampa, and Julia Davis of Tampa; and ex-wife and friend Diana Davis of Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Born in Tampa to James "Jim" Davis and Joan (Ritchel) Davis, Jason lived in the Tampa Bay area his entire life.
Young Jason was a soccer player and usually played goalkeeper. One time when he was goofing around in the yard with his younger brother, Marcus, he accidentally kicked the ball into a neighbor's yard with such force that it broke an outdoor light. Marc held this secret over Jason's head for years and used it for brotherly blackmail. Jason learned later that the neighbor - a reputed mobster - always knew and was not upset in the least. As an adult, Jason always thought the Tampa Bay Rowdies should be more popular.
Jason's friends from Brandon High School remember him wearing a tie to school most days. His mother thought it was because he was a year younger than his classmates and he wanted to look older. He told his future wife, Diana, that he wore a tie because the ladies liked it. Jason graduated from Brandon High in 1986.
Jason studied Journalism at the University of Florida in Gainesville. While he was a student, he was a correspondent for The Tampa Tribune, sometimes covering events even when they conflicted with his class schedule. When The Tribune offered him a full-time job, he left UF and returned to Tampa in 1990.
As the youngest person on the Sports staff, Jason returned to his old standby: the tie. He dressed up a bit so he'd look less boyish, but his colleagues were not fooled. He was a kid. But he was a smart and talented kid.
During his time at The Tribune he became an editor on the Sports desk, and he was part of a small group that went to Atlanta to cover the 1996 Summer Olympics. One month after that assignment, his first daughter, Colleen, was born. His second daughter, Natalie, came along in 1998, and his third, Julia, was born in 2000.
Jason was pleased to be a girl dad and enjoyed his pink and pretty home life. He happily attended numerous dance recitals, and during high school football games, he was there for the halftime color guard performance. He was also there to cheer on his daughters when they played sports.
All three of his daughters share Jason's quick wit and talent for writing.
When his eldest daughter was applying to the University of Florida, he noted that it had grown into a much more competitive school than he'd experienced. He joked that when he applied all it took was being able to sign his name. He was delighted that all three of his daughters attended UF on full Bright Futures scholarships. All three graduated. He was so proud.
Jason kept in close contact with a core group of friends. Some were buddies from elementary school, and others he'd met in college. They would get together annually for "The Summit." Jason described this event as a gathering to discuss their million-dollar ideas for their own businesses. Jason's wife always assumed it was a weekend of barbecue restaurants and strip clubs. Turns out it was barbecue restaurants, watching Smokey and the Bandit, so many laughs, and too much walking for Jason's taste.
Jason loved these Summits with Eric Davis, Dave Deeley, Dennis Lefever, Tim Martin, Dave Parker, and Tim Weaver. For the 10th get-together, Jason designed a logo and had polo shirts made for all the guys. As life and geography got in the way, the guys were no longer able to gather in person annually, but they remained good friends.
Jason transitioned out of newspaper journalism but continued as a writer and editor. Over the years, he spent time at the Bradenton Herald, AAA Auto Club South, Paradigm Learning, Palm Beach Media, and the American Association for Physician Leadership.
One time when his daughters were young and brainstorming about what to give him for his birthday, one piped up that they should get him a "meat hat." She was not wrong. He even got certified as a Kansas City Barbecue Society judge in 2012.
Jason and Diana went their separate ways in 2015, but when Jason's health started declining in 2020, they reconnected.
In recent years, Jason downshifted to part-time work as an independent contractor. His worsening eyesight and other health troubles forced him to stop altogether.
When he could no longer see well, Jason rediscovered radio - something he loved in his younger years. He was a fan of both local radio and satellite radio. He also enjoyed listening to podcasts.
Even though he had updated to current technology, he had a soft spot for the old stuff, and saved his CDs from Eurythmics, Tangerine Dream, and more.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jim; younger brother, Marc; and his beloved grandmother Sarah "Non" Clonts.
Jason was also a cat dad, so in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Blue Ridge, www.humanesocietyofblueridge.org, or the Humane Society of Tampa, www.humanesocietytampa.org.
Jason did not want a funeral. Instead, there will be a celebration of life to be announced later. There will be barbecue.
(To Jason's friends from The Tribune: This is the obituary for first edition. We can update for second.)
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