J.T. Davis

J.T. Davis a.k.a. "Farm" passed peacefully to his heavenly home Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 after struggling many years from the effects of early on-set heart disease. He always had a positive outlook saying, "What is to be, will be." He never complained and refused to let his "ailing ticker" keep him from enjoying the things he loved most — Faith, Family, Friends and of course, Farming!

John Thomas Davis was born in the small farming community of Summerland, Mississippi. His beloved parents, Verna and Clarence Davis welcomed J.T. to their growing family which at that time included five older brothers, George, Carl, Ernest, Ralph and Fred. J.T. was the "baby boy" until his sisters; Mary, Pat and Nelda were born over the following years.

J.T.'s sense of humor, positive outlook, kindness, generosity, dependability, integrity, constant smile, easy-going nature, quiet leadership, business management and so many other admirable qualities were simply natural to him. He was a gentle, hard-working man who never met a stranger and was always ready to lend a hand. He was soft-spoken yet his words spoke volumes. He truly "walked the walk" by living his life according to what he called, "The Good Book." He loved the Lord and it showed!

He was recognized with numerous awards during the 30+ years he was an auto dealer. He was active and instrumental in effecting change on the local, state, regional and national levels of the Independent Automobile Dealers Association. Over the years he was elected to serve in multiple leadership and executive roles; National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) Vice President; Texas (TIADA) Vice President; Houston (HIADA) President. J.T.'s ethics, dependability, integrity, generosity and eagerness to help anyone and everyone in business as well as in the community was unwavering; thus, being awarded the "Quality Dealer of Texas" by the Texas Independent Automobile Dealers Association was an honor well deserved yet humbly and gratefully accepted. Even after retiring as a dealer, J.T. continued to help others buy, sell and trade vehicles even after his 90th birthday!

J.T. married the love of his life, Loretta on Aug. 11, 1950. In 1956 J.T. moved his family — oldest daughter Charlotte and now-deceased son, James, from Mississippi to Houston. Two years later, their youngest daughter Linda was born. J.T.'s family was his top priority and together they enjoyed one of J.T.'s favorite pastimes — riding horses. J.T. rode with a precision drill team on horseback, The Texas Range Riders. They performed in local and regional rodeos including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at the “Houston Coliseum" and the "Astrodome." The family went everywhere together...rodeos, Church, many annual trips to Mississippi to visit relatives, Sunday afternoon drives (to look for cows or cars!)

In 1969, J.T. and Loretta bought an old farmhouse off of FM 389 as a "weekend place." The house was void of indoor plumbing, hadn’t seen a coat of paint in years and the ground was hard, black. But they loved it! Over the years, through lots of blood, sweat, tears and TLC, that little ol' farmhouse and hard, barren soil was transformed into a beautiful home and produced some of the greenest pastures and fattest cows in the county! J.T. loved being at the "Farm" more than anywhere else.

In 1982 J.T. and Loretta welcomed their first grandchild, Aaron and in 1987 their second grandson, Tyler. J.T. was "the best Paw Paw ever"! Whether J.T. was hauling livestock, tending his hay crops, feeding cows, tinkering on the tractors or just sitting on the back porch swing watching the cattle eat rich, green grass — anything he did and everywhere he went, his grandsons wanted nothing more than to be right beside him. He was a man of few words, but the life lessons his "boys" learned from their Paw Paw helped mold their lives into the wonderful men they are today and he is so proud of them. Their hard working, gentle, funny, Christian Paw Paw lives on through them. What a wonderful legacy! Alas, after many years of the farming, hauling, baling, feeding, etc. the "farm" began to take its toll on both J.T. and Loretta's health. In less than two weeks J.T. sold three tractors, a pasture-full of equipment, hay, cows and everything that wasn't nailed down and they moved back to the "big city," Brenham.

In 2009, J.T.'s heart overflowed with the birth of his first great-granddaughter, Avery. She was "Paw Paw's baby girl" Avery was joined by little sister Henley in 2015 "Little Bit" They also proclaimed him "the best Paw Paw ever"! He loved his grandkids and great-grandkids so much he wanted them to come spend every weekend with "Paw Paw and Maw Maw!”

The world lost a good man, but heaven gained another bright star! Though our hearts are deeply saddened, we can rejoice in the fact that J.T. has no more pain, no more suffering. And in Heaven, there will never be a day that is "too wet to plow."

J.T. is survived by his wife, Loretta, his daughters Charlotte and Linda, grandson Aaron Zindler and his wife, Beth; grandson Tyler Fisher; great granddaughters Avery and Henley Zindler; sister Pat Parker; sister Nelda Lee and husband Allen; sister-in-law Jeanette Davis; many loving nieces and nephews; and an immeasurable number of friends.

J.T. is preceded in death by his son, James Ray Davis; his parents, brothers and sister, Mary Schreiber.

Celebration of Life for J.T. is Feb. 5, 2021 at Brenham's First Baptist Church 304 N. Market St Brenham, Texas 77833. Visitation with the family is from 10-11 a.m. with the Celebration Service from 11 a.m. to noon. Internment will be at Prairie Lea Cemetery immediately following the service.

The gifts of your love, support and friendship are our treasured blessings.

If you are considering a donation in J.T.'s memory and are undecided about a charity, J.T. was passionate about his church and Miracle Farm where horses are instrumental in the healing process to help young men and boys. First Baptist Church Brenham's Building or Benevolent Fund, 304 N. Market Street, Brenham, Texas 77833; or Miracle Farm, 10802 FM 2621, Brenham, Texas 77833.