Jack Edwin Davis
Port Townsend, Wash.
July 27, 1943 – Aug. 19, 2016
Jack E. Davis of Port Townsend, Wash. passed away the weekend of Aug. 19, 2016 at his home. He was 73. He was born July 27, 1943 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jack was an illustrator, humorist, musician, and loving friend, brother, and father. Over his long and productive career he worked as an art director at Ayres and Associates in Lincoln, Neb. He also worked as a freelance illustrator producing editorial illustrations for Mother Jones magazine, the Nation, and other national publications. For the last two decades he primarily focused on children’s books, illustrating more than 60 books over 20 years, including “Music Over Manhattan” with author Mark Karlins, and “Bedhead” with Margie Palatini. Jack was awarded the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators Gold Medal Award for Humor among many others.
Jack was also an accomplished guitarist, and worked for many of his early years in the Midwest as a touring musician with several bands, including Cotton, and Homecookin’, the first house bands for the legendary Zoo Bar in Lincoln, Neb. In 2000, he was inducted into the Nebraska Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Jack will be dearly missed by his siblings, Susan (Jim) Godfroy, Michael Anne (Gary) Hight, and Todd Davis; his uncle Jack Connelly; and his sons Michael (Lynn Kister) Davis, Jason (Donna) Davis and granddaughter Nina Simone Davis; daughter-in-law Kelly Ann Walker Masterson.
He was preceded in death by his brothers Tom and Mark Davis; his eldest son John Anthony Davis; and the mother of his three children Lorraine Kay Davis.
At Jack's request there will be no memorial services.
Please direct donations to Welfare for Animals Guild, P.O. Box 3966, Sequim, WA 98382
