James Edward Davidson

When God calls home a tired soul

And stills a fitful breath,

Love Divine is waiting there.

This is Birth, not death.

James Edward Davidson died in Santa Fe on December 2, 2020. He was 90 years old.

Jim was born in Amarillo on June 27, 1930 to Ben H. and Edith (Mathews) Davidson. He grew up in Clovis. He attended New Mexico Military Institute. It was one of the defining events of his life. While there he was a Golden Gloves boxer and a track star. Jim next attended Oklahoma A&M University, now Oklahoma State. He was on the track team. He was also a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. Upon graduation Jim was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army. That was another of the defining events of his life. After training at Fort Benning and Fort Rucker he went to South Korea. He disembarked at Inchon on New Year’s Eve 1953 and served as a Weapons Platoon Leader in the 2nd Infantry Division. Upon returning to the states Jim moved to Littlefield and went to work at Sudan Livestock and Feeding Company, eventually becoming general manager. Upon retirement he moved to Santa Fe. Because of his life-long desire to care for the elderly, Jim went back to work as an activities director at nursing homes in Santa Fe, Espanola, and Los Alamos. He finally retired for good and went to live at Espanola Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation and later at Santa Fe Care.

Jim is survived by his daughter Sally Davidson of Cañon City, daughter Mary Davidson Bartle and husband Andy of New York, son Ben Davidson and wife Rebecca Butler of Littlefield and Lubbock, son Bill and wife Terri Davidson of Corpus Christi, son John and wife Carie Davidson of Whispering Pines, North Carolina, six grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his father Ben H., mother Edith, and son Jim Davidson, Jr.

The family would like to thank Santa Fe Care and Jim’s caregivers, healthcare providers and friends for making his last years worthwhile. There will be a memorial service for Jim when the pandemic lifts. The family requests that anyone wishing to make a gift in Jim’s memory do so to either New Mexico Military Institute or Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch.

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