Jack Jennings Davis

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SPANISH FORK / ORANGEVILLE – Jack Jennings Davis passed away Sept. 6, 2015, at his home in Spanish Fork with the same quiet dignity that shepherded his labors throughout his life.
Born March 6, 1928 in Columbia, N.C., Jack was a man of great character, keen intellect, soft wisdom, fierce devotion and teasing humor who was proud of his North Carolina heritage, his upbringing and faith, but mostly his family.
Throughout his long life he idolized his father and spoke of him often, perhaps never fully realizing how much his children would in turn idolize their father. As a teenager both he and his brother Dan would run from missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and when Jack was finally caught by them he ended up becoming a missionary himself.
It was on his mission for his church that he met the woman who would eventually become his wife. Jack married Francis Sammons on March 29, 1952 and they were married for 61 years and raised seven eternally grateful children.
Although it often mystified him as he explained exactly how, the lanky farm boy from the back woods of North Carolina brought his family to the deserts of Emery County where his children prospered and he watched with satisfaction as they found companions, multiplied and made lives of their own.
His greatest sense of accomplishment was in his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and he would devote countless hours in tracking them down and making sure they were happy, healthy and well fed, particularly the latter.
Jack served in many callings for his church and was known to be a religious scholar. He enjoyed sitting for long hours discussing family, religion, philosophy and politics and his questioning nature would often lead him to discover just what topics might lead to your consternation, which he then delighted in returning to with a soft, sardonic smile.
The last 20 years of his working career he was the caretaker of the Orangeville City Cemetery, a job in which he found great pride in doing well. His only regret was when he chose to retire at the age of 82 he felt that, perhaps, he could have given it a couple more years.
Preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters, his wife (Francis), a daughter (Karen), a son-in-law and a great grandson. Survived by his daughters Carol (Thayne) Cox, Orangeville; Cathy (Brent) Hardee, Castle Dale; sons Jack J. (Debbie) Davis Jr., Green River, Wyo; James L. (Colleen) Davis, Spanish Fork, Utah; Jonathan Q. (Lauri) Davis, West Jordan, Utah; and Joshua T. (Melanie) Davis, Orangeville, 26 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Special gratitude is expressed by the family to Carma and Heather of Maple Creek Home Health and Hospice for the dedication and compassion they provided in making his finals days more comfortable.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, at the Orangeville Second Ward, 45 West 100 South, Orangeville, Utah. Visitation was held one hour prior to the funeral. Interment followed in the Orangeville Cemetery under the trusted care of Heritage Funeral Home. Family and friends may sign the guestbook and share memories at heritagefuneralhomeutah.com.