John Irvin Davis

John Irvin Davis, the man, the myth, the legend, was born on March 4, 1936, and departed this life in the early morning hours of April 14, 2026. For the last year, all John wanted was for all three of his girls to be under the same roof with him and their mama, laughing and having a good time like they always do. John always enjoyed his daughters’ shenanigans, oftentimes while shaking his head and asking, “where did I go wrong?!”  He held on to his earthly life until his daughters could be together and share memories, funny stories, and sing his favorite hymns.

Knowing his girls were by his side, he knew he could enter into eternal rest. Jesus welcomed him with open arms, at 12:40 AM freeing him from the physical grip that Parkinson’s had on his life.

John met the love of his life, Ella Tarver, in his hometown of Montgomery, Alabama and they were married for 67 years.

Enterprise, Alabama was their home until they both retired and moved to Ella’s family property in Wagarville, Alabama.

They have three beautiful daughters, Kaye, Melanie and Dawn who were the apples of his eye. John spent his life setting a very high standard by showing his daughters what a loving husband and attentive father looks like through his actions and as a follower of Christ. He was blessed to continue showing his love to his four granddaughters, two grandsons, six great-granddaughters, and five great-grandsons.

Until 1962, John was a security guard in the Alabama Air National Guard. In August 1964, he joined the Army National Guard as a helicopter pilot, eventually earning the esteemed rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. During his aviation career he served as a Med Evac pilot, as well as an Instructor Pilot for soldiers attending flight school at the U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting Center at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. At the time of his retirement, he was a Flight Commander overseeing primary flight training in the UH-1 Huey helicopter. His proudest aviation accomplishment was an entire career without an accident, or even a scratch, on the Army helicopters he flew as a pilot or instructor. He had a total of 12,500 flight hours, with 9,000 instructor hours. At the time of his retirement, he had a total of 38 years of service and was awarded a Certificate of Achievement from the Aviation Warfighting Center at Ft. Rucker for 6,000 consecutive accident-free Instructor Pilot hours in the United States Army aircraft.

He spent over twenty years serving his communities as a football official for the Alabama High School Athletic Association. When the effects of Parkinson’s prevented him from being on the field, he operated the play clock so he could still be part of the team.

John is survived by his loving wife, Ella Tarver Davis, three daughters: Kaye Prejean (Dave), Melanie Paul (Rob), and Dawn Saldivar (Juan). Grandchildren: Kristen Malone, Emily Dunn (Brooks), Robert Paul (Amanda), Andrew Wilkinson, Alyssa Lynch (Zach) and Mariela Saldivar. Great-Grandchildren: Reid Peeples, Wesley Rockenfelder, Braeden, Evelyn and Brewer Dunn, Agnes, Harriet and Edith Paul, Noah, Leah and Ella Wilkinson, Brayden and Brooklyn Lynch. Several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents: George & Lola Davis; brothers: George & Woodrow Davis; and sister, Jewell Adams.

Services at First Baptist Church Leroy will begin with visitation at 10:00 A.M., followed by a celebration of his life at 11:00 A.M. Graveside service will follow at Ebenezer United Methodist Church cemetery. John was a long-time member and teacher at First Baptist Church Leroy. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, at 5757 Waterford district Drive, Sweet 310 Miami, Florida 33126, or to the General Building Fund for FBC Leroy, P.O Box 5 Leroy, Alabama 36548

Officiating the service will be Dr. Rob Paul and Bro. Ben Posey

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