James Davis

1937 - 2018

James Clayton Davis

1937-2018

James Clayton Davis passed away on March 7th, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. He was 80 years old.
James (Jay) was born in Berkeley California to Arthur Clayton Davis and Katherine Ann Davis. He grew up in Berkeley and San Francisco, and graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco. He received a Bachelor's degree from San Francisco State, and did some graduate work at UC Berkeley. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve.
In 1964, Jay married Mary Ellyn Anderson and they had a daughter, Kelly, in 1965. He worked as a meter reader for PG&E for many years, and taught for the San Francisco Unified School District. He also wrote music reviews for the San Francisco Chronicle during the 1970's and 1980's. He lived in San Francisco until 2016 when, due to his declining health, he moved to Oregon to be near his daughter.
Jay and his two brothers, Kent and Peter, were all known and loved for their charisma and sharp wit. Jay had an impressive vocabulary and an astute sense of irony, which he frequently used to send his family and friends into fits of hysterical laughter. He was an avid fan of jazz, literature, and classic films, and was a skilled piano player and writer. He had a pure heart and a keen intelligence.
In his last years, Jay was cared for by his daughter Kelly, and the kind staff at Avamere Rehabilitation of Eugene.
He will be remembered and deeply missed by his daughter Kelly and her husband Mike, his Sisters-in-Law Sue Davis and Pamela Davis, his long-time friends Carole Vetter and Sondra Reid, his three nieces Brigid, Monica, and Kate Davis, his nephew Kevin Davis, and his many cousins and large extended family.
Arrangements entrusted to Musgrove Family Mortuary. Please access the obituary and you are invited to sign the guestbook at musgroves.com