James Azel Davis

The spirit of James Azel Davis, 72, of Belmont, NH, with his family by his side, departed to the heavenly father’s house of many mansions on June 12, 2016.

Though he was born in Hartford, CT, on March 27 1944, Jim was always a Vermonter at heart. The son of Theodore James and Marguerite Mary (Washburn) Davis, he would spend most of his childhood between the family home in Wallingford, VT and his grandfather’s farm in Benson, VT.

Jim graduated from Wallingford High School in 1962 and subsequently studied engineering at Vermont Technical College, where he earned associate’s degree in engineering.

From 1965 to 1967, Jim worked for the State of Vermont in various capacities, including highway technician for the highway department and as an acting assistant resident engineer on the construction of Route 7.

In subsequent years, Jim was a general construction superintendent for a private contractor in Rutland, and a sales manager for Wilk Brothers Paving, also in Rutland, and Pauquette Paving in Ashland, NH.

By 1969 and into 1980, he served as a sales representative and eventually a chief site and planning engineer and environmental security officer for Pike Industries of Tilton, NH.

In the early 1980s Jim served as vice president in charge of sales for Jamieson, Inc. of Montpelier, VT. In 1983, he founded Davis and Swanson, Inc., a preventative pavement maintenance company — an endeavor he would grow and nurture for 14 years.

Over the years, Jim enjoyed many hobbies — he was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing with friends and family — and also was heavily involved in the community.

He coached Tilton Youth League Baseball for eight years, and helped organize the Twin County Senior Youth League. He was also a unit commissioner for the Belmont Boy Scout troop.

In addition, he was a member and chairman of the Town of Tilton Planning Board, and also served as a member of the zoning board of adjustment and planning board in Proctor, VT, representing the Town of Proctor as a member of the Rutland County Regional Planning Commission.

Later in life, Jim enjoyed spending time with his 4 grandsons, tracing his family’s lineage, volunteering for political campaigns, proudly supporting National Geographic and World Wildlife Fund, and tooling around New England in his bright-yellow convertible.

Survivors include…. Sons, James “Jamie” Davis II and his wife Deb (Grady), of New Hampton, NH, and Job Davis and his wife Michelle (Lacasse), of Belmont, NH; daughter, Allison Davis, of New York, NY; and grandsons, Harold Davis of Belmont, NH, Sean Davis of Ashland, NH, Calvin Davis of Belmont, and Ian Davis of New Hampton; and siblings Gloria Merrow and her husband Edward of Danby, VT, Debra Drake and her husband James of North Woodstock, GA, VT, and Ted Davis and his wife Debra of Middlebury, VT.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 17, at Clifford Funeral Home at 2 Washington St. in Rutland, VT. There will be an additional hour of visitation at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, at Clifford, followed directly by funeral services at 11 a.m. Burial will be immediately following funeral services and all are welcome.