Obituary of Donald M Davis

Donald Marion Davis, 84, of St Petersburg, FL, passed away in his sleep during the early morning of Sunday, September 10, 2023. He was born in Ft. Meyers and raised in Clewiston, FL. The son of Luther Nanthis Davis, Jr. and Wilma Evelyn McClure, he had four brothers and two sisters. He graduated Clewiston High School in 1957 and joined the Navy in July 1958. He was stationed with the Marine Corps, Camp Lejeune, N.C. where he met his wife, Paticia Ann Jones who was also enlisted in the Navy.  He was commissioned in March 1969 and he graciously allowed the Navy to put him through college, graduating from George Washington University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.

During his Navy career as an officer, Don was primarily involved in hospital administration and in the construction of new hospitals. In addition to Camp Lejeune, Don was stationed in Key West, Jacksonville, Bermuda, Washington, DC (3 times), Okinawa, and Pensacola. After retiring in July 1981 as a Lieutenant Commander and moving to St. Petersburg, he went to work for Florida Power as a financial analyst, building power stations instead of hospitals.

Donald was active in his church, the former Pasadena Presbyterian, since moving to St. Petersburg and served as both a Deacon and an Elder on multiple occasions. He was very active in the church’s food pantry. Using the church for meetings, he was the Chartered Organization Representative to Boy Scout Troop 301 for more than 40 years. He had a passion to prepare young scouts to make ethical and moral choices during their lifetimes and, as part of that passion, he guided more than 80 scouts in achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Don’s unfailing devotion to the troop took him hiking, swimming, caving, horseback riding, zip-lining, rappelling, biking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and more well into his 80s. He was elected into the Boy Scout’s National Honor Society, the Order of the Arrow, in 1994 and he completed the advanced, national leadership course for adults, Wood Badge, in 2005.He also helped organize other volunteer projects such as Scouting for Food and St. Anthony’s Triathalon. He very much enjoyed donating his time to the local elementary school, reading to and helping children with disabilities and autism.

Don and Pat were also active in the Boca Ciega Yacht Club. Don was an accomplished sailor who was close to the sea his whole life, both in the Navy and while relaxing and enjoying his sailboat in the bays and up and down the Gulf Coast.

As a member of the Second Time Arounders marching band, he marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade twice, along with many other parades, both local and abroad.

After 48 years of marriage, Don was widowed in 2009 and remarried the former Mary Sharpless Watson on April 13, 2013. They shared a beautiful extended family and vigorously enjoyed life through travel and sightseeing.

Don enjoyed weekly dinners out with friends, line-dancing, volunteering and helping the community. He loved his dog, Maggie, who he walked 2 miles daily for many years.

Don is survived by his wife, Mary, his brother Ken, his sisters Deborah and Lynn, his sons Andy and Tery, and by his 3 grandchildren, Rebekah, Benjamin, and Abram.

Don's Memorial Service will be at New Creation Family Church, 100 Pasadena Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 on Saturday, September 23 at 11 AM with reception to follow in the church's fellowship hall.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Boy Scout Troop 301 in care of the church.