Happy Father's Day Daddy, I Miss You More Than You Will Ever Know

John K. Davis

John K. Davis, 65, Springfield, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, October 25, surrounded by his loving family. He was born November 7, 1940, in Norman, Oklahoma. John graduated from Classen High School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1958 and the University of Oklahoma with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1963. John started his career with Southwestern Power Administration in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as an Electrical Engineer and Public Utility Specialist before advancing to a position of Project Engineer with Buckeye Power, Inc., in Columbus, Ohio. He enthusiastically filled the position of General Manager and C.E.O. of Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative in Marshfield, Mo., since 1975. He was a past president of the National G&T Managers Association and one of the longest serving G&T managers in the country. John proudly served on the Board of Directors for Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., Springfield, Mo., and the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Jefferson City, Mo. John's relationship with staff and professional peers has transcended anything commonly seen in the industry. He has generously mentored employees to foster their professional and personal growth. He has become a close friend to his colleagues, building strong bonds of mutual respect and admiration. His peers recently honored his generous and insightful leadership by selecting him to receive the Franklin R. Stork Democracy Award to recognize his lifetime of service to the Rural Electric Cooperatives. John fought against the limitations of his declining health to continue to go to work because he considered the people he worked with to be like members of his own family and he preferred being with them to anything he might have done if he had taken disability leave. His heroic commitment to his work has been permanently memorialized in Sho-Me Power's decision to name their newest building the John K. Davis Engineering Center. John was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Evelyn Davis. John is survived by those who have loved him and worked to help him to survive; his devoted wife and love of 42 years, Nancy; son, J. Kent Davis II and his wife, Jill, Nixa, Mo.; daughter, Cammie Heflin and her husband, Scott, Marshfield, Mo. John had seven grandchildren that he treasured deeply, Jarika Heflin, John Kent Davis III, Kory Davis, Cooper Heflin, Laura Patton, Avery Heflin and Liz Davis that will always remember him as Papa. A celebration of his life will be held at National Avenue Christian Church, Springfield, Mo., at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 30, with Dr. Roger Ray officiating. Arrangements under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John K. Davis Engineering Scholarship at Metropolitan National Bank, PO. Box C, Marshfield, MO 65706 or the National Avenue Christian Church Outreach Program at 1515 South National, Springfield, MO 65807. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Robert Ellis, the nurses at the Hulston Cancer Center, and the Community Hospices of America, Southwest.