John A. Davis

John A. Davis, Harrison Native Dies Friday

John A. Davis died at the Veteran's Hospital in Hot Springs, S. Dak., on Friday at the age of 66, and funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from Memorial Methodist Church with burial in the Harrison Cemetery.

With nine years service in the U. S. Marines and another 15 years with the Army, Mr. Davis had requested that he be buried in his OD uniform. Military rites were conducted at the grave by Veterans of Foreign Wars, with Commander Duke Rabe in charge. Buster Wickersham was color bearer and Vernon Schaefer and Kenneth Taylor the color guard. Active firing squad included Bill Didier, Ronald Grote, Jimmy Phipps, Octave Hanley, Russell From and Harold Wilson. Others in the squad were A. F. Partridge, Vern Holtz, Jim Hack and Chas. Umphenour. Mr. Rabe and Mr. Hack folded and presented the flag. Taps were played by Charles King.

The Rev. James Keith, minister of the Methodist Church, officiated at religious rites. Masonic rites at the church and at the cemetery were performed by Richard Schmechel of Chadron. Mrs. James Keith sang and Mrs. Robert Todd was organist for the services.

Mr. Davis was born at Harrison February 5, 1900, the son of John J. and Alice Davis, pioneer residents of Harrison. He graduated from Sioux County High School in 1918

During World War I he enlisted in the U. S. Army and from 1920 served a nine-year enlistment with the Marines during which time he spent over two years in the Philippine Islands and was a member of the Legation Guard in Peking, China.

In 1940 he re-enlisted in the Army and served continuously until November 30, 1955, when he retired to become a member of the Retired Enlisted Reserve. For the last 13 years he held the grade of master sergeant. He served in various posts in the United States and overseas in Puerto Rico, Aruba and Curacao in the West Indies, and for three years in the army of occupation of Japan and Korea. He has lived in Harrison since retiring.

He was a member of Sioux Masonic Lodge No. 2677 of Harrison and served in all the chairs and elective offices with the exception of treasurer, being master in 1940. He was a member of and commander of Sioux Post 7970 of the V. F. W. in 1957 and 1958. He was also a member of the Harrison American Legion Post and served as county service officer and as post service officer for both the Legion and V. F. W.

He is survived by three sisters: Mrs. Edna Bixler, Scottsbluff, Mrs. Rosetta Grant of Gering, and Mrs. Wanda Cooper of Omaha. His parents and two brothers, Arch C. and Dan died previously.

Out of town relatives here for the funeral were Mrs. Cooper of Omaha, Mrs. Bixler and Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Cassels of Scottsbluff, Mrs. Grant and her daughter, Betty and husband of Gering.

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