JAMES DAVIS

JAMES DAVIS James Farrel Davis finished his life here on earth on August 4, 2025. He was 93 years old. He would have turned 94 on August 23, 2025 ! He was born in Venice, Utah, to Stanley Heber Davis and Elva Clay Cowley Davis on August 23, 1931. According to his mother's history, " he was born on the kitchen table and he was a red-headed little baby and was full of life. He came out laughing." There were six in his family, Raymond, him, a stillborn sister, Clyde Jay, Enid, and Karen. He was raised in Venice, Utah, and spent most of his life there. He started school at the Venice Schoolhouse. When he reached the sixth grade, they started to bus them to Richfield where he graduated from Richfield High School in May 1949. He got a scholarship to attend Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah. While there, he joined the ROTC at college and at one of their military balls, he met Marilyn Elaine Salisbury from Richfield, Utah. He came home for the summer and started to date her. They were married on September 8, 1950 in the Manti LDS Temple. To this marriage came five children: Mike, Debra, Becky, Elaine, and Jody. He farmed with his dad on the family farm all his growing up years. Later on he bought that farm and continued to farm it while he was being taught how to lay brick by Ariel Breinholt. He laid the brick on the family home in Venice, after it was remodeled, and many other homes around the area. His only son, Mike, also learned to lay brick and bought the family farm. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and boating. As a family we spent many weekends up on the mountains around Venice. If he came in and said, "I'm going fishing," we knew that we had about five minutes to get ready to go with him. As a family we all enjoyed the snowmobiles and the winters that we spent in the mountains. After Marilyn retired, they bought a fifth wheel and they spent a lot of time traveling together. He always talked about these times with much love. They had many years together doing this alone and with other family members. One of their favorite places was Maple Grove. He lost the love of his life, Marilyn, on August 6, 2017. Before being asked to serve as Bishop of the Venice Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he served in the Sunday School, Elders Quorum, as Executive Secretary, and as counselor to Bishop Merrill Cowley. He served on the High Council of the Richfield Utah Stake for 5 years and oversaw the Fishlake Branch. Him and Marilyn thoroughly enjoyed this. They served a church mission at Cove Fort and as directors for the stake and then regional cannery in Sigurd, Utah. He loved his family! Here is his quote from his life history: "As I grow older, the things of importance are the things I had most of my life, good parents that helped me learn how to work, be honest, and take care of myself. I found a good lady to make a home with, have five children with, and also to have those five children give us grandchildren. Life is good and I couldn't ask for anything better." Farrel is survived by his five children, Mike (LaVonne) Davis, Debra (Randy) Brunson, Becky (Joe) Carroll, Elaine ( Perry, deceased) King and Jody (Bill) White. 23 grandchildren with many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. He loved his family! He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, his parents, his brother Raymond, his sister, Enid Jamison, his son-in-law, Perry King, Grandson Steven Scott Perry Jr., and many other family members. The family wishes to thank Zions Way Hospice, Sevier Valley Hospital, and Stonehenge Skilled Nursing Facility for their loving care of Farrel. Funeral services were held Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 11:00 am in the Venice Ward Chapel, 170 S Main St, Venice, Utah. Burial took place in the Venice Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina, and Manti. A guest book and recording of the services are available online at www.maglebymortuary.com