Jeffrey Alden Davis
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Jeffrey Alden Davis, 62, died on March 8, 2009, at home in Springfield, Ore., with his family by his side, after a 10-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born in Harrisburg on July 17, 1946, he moved with parents and siblings to Blythe, Calif., in 1957. The family relocated to Ventura County in 1961 where he finished his schooling, worked and lived for many years.
He proudly joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve at 17 years of age, serving for two years, then staying active in the Marine Corps League. He attended Ventura and Moorpark Colleges and UCLA Extension and began a diverse career which ranged from dishwasher to finance manager/comptroller, working in education, construction, aerospace and manufacturing.
He was married to Sandra Skelley in 1966 and divorced in 1970. In 2000, he moved to Springfield, Ore., to be with Barbara, his life partner and was married May 11, 2002.
He focused the majority of his career working for three non-profit, public service agencies providing multicultural human services as financial manager and computer support. Over the 17 years at Child Development Resources, Ventura County Inc. (CDR) he was very proud of his success in updating their computer usage, financial models, and monitoring processes, but mostly of designing and overseeing the construction and renovation of several of the Head Start Centers throughout the county service area. After his permanent move to Oregon, he worked in Eugene for two years at Centro Latino Americano and four years at White Bird Clinic, where he successfully developed and upgraded fiscal, IT, administrative and compliance operations for both agencies. He also continued to serve CDR as a consultant for budget and resource management from 2000 until his full retirement in 2008.
Jeff was preceded in death by his fathers, James E. Davis and Robert L. Kumler.
Jeff is survived by his mother, Betty Jean (Sexton) Davis Kumler of Camarillo, Calif.; his loving wife, Barbara Hunter Ure Davis, Springfield, Ore.; three children, Kimberly Davis, Seattle, Wash., David and Doug Ure, Springfield, Ore.; and two grandchildren, Chase and Austin; three sisters, Tracy Davis, Fort Garland, Colo., Pat Davis, Brea, Calif., Margie Kumler, Hollywood, Calif., and three brothers, James E. Davis, Robert Kumler, Redondo Beach, Calif., and Roger Kumler, Honeoye Falls, N.Y.
He was a member of the Ojai Chamber of Commerce, Simi Valley Cultural Association, Thurston Grange, Emerald Empire Gun Club and other marksmen groups, and a life member of the Lions, first at Oxnard Noontimers Club in California, then Eugene Downtown Club in Oregon. Over the years, Jeff thoroughly enjoyed attending Davis family reunions and numerous visits to the Harrisburg area. His grandparents were James Monroe and Myrtle (Bassinger) Davis.
Following his adventurous spirit and desire for continued self-education, Jeff lived a truly eclectic life. He was known for his unique sense of humor, his great store of both useful information and of trivia, his artistic talents in numerous mediums, biting cartoonist, being a great road trip companion and his ability to design and complete numerous construction projects. He was also an early computer aficionado, marksman, unique organizer, Santa impersonator, master packer, gleeful prankster, knowledgeable collector, early eBay mogul, and lifelong "cat adopter," often emulating the best feline behaviors in sleuthing out creative solutions to problems and challenges.
He was a wonderful, loving son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, "Uncle Dad" and friend to so many. He will forever be remembered and loved by everyone who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at the Thurston Grange No. 853, 6595 Thurston Road, Springfield, Ore., at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2009. Arrangements are in the charge of Andreason's Cremation and Burial Service in Springfield, Ore. In July, there will also be a beachside celebration for his Ventura County family and friends. Please visit the memorial website at www.foreverheartandsoul.com/blog/ to contact the family and let us know of your interest in further information.
In honor of Jeff's wishes for wonderful care he received in Oregon, remembrances may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc., 305 S. Illinois St., Belleville, Ill. 62220 with the toll-free telephone number (800) 233-1708 or visit website at www.hospice.org.