VERMILION — Former mayor of Vermilion Jimmy Davis died Sunday in Cleveland.

Davis, who served as Vermilion’s mayor for 10 years, was being treated at the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at University Hospitals when he died. He was 60 years old.

The family man turned politician grew up in Vermilion and spent his life living and working in Northeast Ohio. He obtained a master’s degree in public administration, a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Cleveland State University and an associate’s in civil engineering technologies from Lorain County Community College.

But it was his work as public works director for the city of Westlake that let Davis know he wanted to serve the public as an elected official. First, he served as Vermillion Council president before being elected mayor, a part-time position.

It was work his wife of 32 years, Libby Davis, said he loved, because he loved Vermilion.

“He was very creative, bright and always thinking outside the box to benefit the citizens of Vermilion or those who worked for him,” she said.

In Vermilion, he helped pull the community together to build a new police station and courthouse, and he worked to foster cooperation with Vermilion Schools to provide youth recreation and sports programming in the city.

He was a motivational speaker, community leader, board member of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and supporter of the Blessing House.

Juliana Chase-Morefield, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank, said she first met Davis years ago when she spoke at an event at the Lion’s Club in Vermilion. Chase-Morefield remembered him as the guy in the audience who kept asking her questions about the organization’s backpack program, which gives needy children backpacks full of food to eat over the weekend so they can have a meal when school is not in session.

“He was just interested in what we’re doing and how we wanted to feed people,” she said. “He is just a really wonderful man and brought some great perspectives to our board that allowed us to look at things in a different way. He was one of those people.”

That chance meeting led to Davis joining the organization’s board, and Chase-Morefield said he will be missed by the Second Harvest Food Bank family.

“He was one of those people who were always so positive even with all the things that were going on in his life,” she said.

Davis, who was legally blind, never let his disability prevent him from doing anything, his wife said. Diagnosed with wet macular degeneration, Davis received his first laser surgery at age 28 and within the last 15 years lost his central vision and was left with only some peripheral vision.

“Nothing changed for Jim when he lost his vision because that’s just the kind of person he was,” Libby Davis said. “He always said going blind was so much worse than being blind. For him it was not doom and gloom. He would tell you and has written many, many times that he was the luckiest man alive.”

Being a father was also a love of Davis.

“My kids will tell you he was the best ever,” Libby Davis said. “He was wise, compassionate and has kept them on the straight and narrow as much as he could. He gave them words of wisdom whether they wanted to hear it or not.”

Libby Davis said her husband, who had hoped to renew their wedding vows, but was unable to due to recent health concerns, lived every day of his life to the fullest and never missed a moment to tell those he cared about how he felt.

“Once he retired, he said it was his job to keep us happy and that worked for me,” she said. “He was honorable, compassionate and caring — the most honest man I have ever known,” she said. “He had more integrity than anyone I have ever known, more than anyone you have ever known.”

A service to celebrate his life will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermilion, said Libby Davis. His oldest daughter, Brittany, 24, will deliver the eulogy, and his daughter Alyssa, 19, will memorialize her father in song.
“It will be just as Jim would want,” Libby Davis said.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

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