Obituary of Jack Benjamin Davis Jr.

Cremation has been held in Eugene, Oregon for Jack Benjamin Davis Jr., where he passed away 4 April, 2023. Jack, the son of Jack B. Davis Sr. and Helen Collins Davis, was born October 10, 1948 in Bozeman, Montana, along with his twin brother James, who passed away in 1987.

The Davis family moved to Butte shortly after the Korean War and Jack enjoyed a happy childhood growing up on "The Richest Hill on Earth." Jack was a true-blue and proud Butte kid. He longed to get back to Butte to live out his retirement days, but it was not to be as his health condition prevented him from leaving Oregon and returning to Montana.

 

Growing up in Butte, Jack was a quiet and sometimes diligent student under the watchful eyes of the

Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) sisters at St. Ann's elementary school. Jack then attended Butte Central (then all boys) Christian Brothers High School and graduated in 1966. He made many friends among his classmates and kept warm memories of many of the Christian Brothers who were his teachers. He also often reminisced about the tasty John's Pork Chop sandwiches which were sometimes made available for the Central students at lunch break in the study hall.

 

In class, Jack and his twin brother Jim succeeded more than once in fooling the Brothers as to who was Jack and who was Jim, as they were near identical in appearance to all but family members. The Davis twins also combined to play on the 1965-66 Maroon basketball team under the legendary Butte Central coach Otto Simon. When Jack and twin brother Jim were on the court at the same time, it was a challenge for more than one referee trying to decide which Davis twin to whistle a foul on.

 

Jack attended Carroll College after graduation from Butte Central, but after one year elected to join the Navy. He served honorably in the navy from 1968-1971, including one year at a naval air station in

South Vietnam. Returning from the war, Jack tried a variety of jobs in Butte, including shoe sales, the

Federal Marshal's Service, and as a sales representative for his father at Davis Motor Company, the Butte Jeep car agency until 1976. In later years, Jack also worked with his father in sales at NAPA auto parts stores in Elko, Nevada and Coos Bay, Oregon.

 

In 1998, Jack fell ill while working in Elko, Nevada. After recovering, he moved back to Coos Bay Oregon. In 2007, he moved to Eugene, Oregon, where his declining health necessitated that he be cared for in an assisted living environment, and, ultimately, in a nursing home in Eugene. Thanks to the excellent care he received, Jack enjoyed many more years in Eugene. He became an ardent fan of the Oregon University basketball and football teams and the Eugene Emeralds professional baseball team. Jack loved doing crossword puzzles and he never missed watching the nightly Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune TV quiz shows. To the end of his life, he kept a sharp sense of humor and, reflecting on his life, Jack, like Frank Sinatra, often famously said, "l did it my way!" He bought lottery tickets until the end of his life and kept alive his hope that a winning ticket could help him get back out to Montana and his beloved Butte. It can now safely be said that Jack has finally won the lottery of life and his spirit has returned home to Butte.

 

Jack is survived by his brothers Mark (Wanda) of Eugene, Oregon; Andrew of Coos Bay, Oregon; and Matthew (Monica) of Amarillo, Texas; nephews Brian and Ben, and niece Sarah. Jack was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother James, and infant sister, Mary. At Jack's request, no services will be held.

 

Arrangements are under the care of Musgrove Family Mortuary, 225 S Danebo Ave, Eugene, OR, 97402, Ph. 541-205-9366

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