Kenneth M. Davis Sr., 82, Port Orange, formerly of St. Joseph and Clarksdale, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, at his residence.
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A memorial service for Kenneth Davis Sr. was held in Daytona Beach; and two private candlelighting services were held by the Masonic Lodge and Sons of the Revolution. Burial will be at a later date in the Fairport Cemetery. Arrangements were by the Bellevue-Cedar Hill Funeral Home in Daytona Beach. Memorials may be made to be made to the American Heart Association.
Kenneth M. Davis Sr., 82, Port Orange, formerly of St. Joseph and Clarksdale, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2001, at his residence.
Born in Weatherby, Mr. Davis was a graduate of the Maysville high school and Centenary College in Shreveport, La., majoring in math. He also attended the Missouri Banker’s Association program for management, accounting and bookkeeping; and the Illinois Banker’s Association for accounting, management and auditing.
During World War II, Mr. Davis served in the Army Air Corps. He was a member of the Parrot Masonic Lodge No. 308, A.F. & A.M., Maysville; Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 84, Daytona Beach; Florida state and national Sons of the Revolution; Common Sense chapter SR, Daytona Beach; and Military Retired Reservists of the Army.
Mr. Davis began his banking career with the Home Bank of Savannah, after he served as the Missouri State Veterans Service officer in St. Joseph for a year. Then he was president and chief executive officer for the Bank of Gallatin; and executive vice-president, cashier and chief executive officer of the First National Bank in Allendale, Ill. He also owned grain elevators in Savannah, Gallatin and Allendale.
From about 1962 through 1964, he was treasurer and managing officer of SICLA Limited, a construction company in Bogota, Colombia, South America.
In 1965, Mr. Davis moved to Clarksdale; and was chief executive officer, president and chairman of the board for the Clarksdale Bank. Besides banking, he was engaged in farming and raised Black Angus cattle in the Clarksdale area.
He also was presiding judge and commissioner to the county court of DeKalb County. He initiated restoration of the DeKalb County courthouse and jail, and obtained from the state two ambulances for the newly-formed ambulance district.
And he served as chief of police for the City of Clarksdale.
Mr. Davis moved from St. Joseph to Port Orange in 1986, and worked in auditing and became the administrator and manager for a security company there until retiring at age 79.
Mr. Davis had been chairman of the Mo-Kan Bi-State Planning Commission and ABCD Regional Council; board chairman of the National Association of Regional Councils, which plans legislation for federally-funded projects and grants in all states; mayor of Clarksdale and board member for the senior housing project for Clarksdale; among those who organized the DeKalb Public Water District No. 1; organized and charter president, zone chairman and deputy district governor for the Clarksdale Lions Club; chairman of the Missouri State Health Systems Agency in Sedalia, Mo.; served on the Missouri Water Quality Control No. 208 Board; board member of the Emergency Medical Services, Mo-Kan Health Council and several governor’s task force committees; twice campaign chairman in 13 counties for Gov. Christopher S. Bond; and member of the Republican Presidential Task Force founded by Ronald W. Reagan and chaired by Sen. Packwood.
Mr. Davis was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth M. Jr.; and a brother, Sam.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara of the home; two daughters, Mrs. Ron Shirk, Maysville, and Mrs. Joe Forge, Leavenworth, Kan.; a stepdaughter, Samala Shumard, Pensacola, Fla.; a stepson, Samuel Irwin, Marietta, Ga.; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.