Jimmy Davidson

JIMMY HALE DAVIDSON, Odessa TX

Jimmy Hale Davidson of Odessa, Texas passed away Saturday, May 29. He was born October 24, 1921 in Weslaco, Texas to James Kellis and Ruby Faye Hale Davidson. He was preceded in death by his wife of fifteen years, Elsie Smith Davidson and a son, John Browning Davidson. He is survived by his son, James Ross Davidson of Odessa, Texas and daughter Emily Suzanne Davidson of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and grandson James Charles Davidson of Fort Worth, Texas.

Mr. Davidson, a fifthgeneration Texan, attended Tarleton College in Stephenville where his grandfather, Charles H. Hale was a professor. He served in the Air Force during World War II and flew B24s in 55 missions over the Himalayan Mountains transporting fuel to the China Burma India Theater. In 1944 he married Vanita Mae Browning from Paducah, Texas who was serving as the states youngest court reporter in Childress, Texas. They were married thirty years.

While in the Air Force, Mr. Davidson was stationed in Columbus, Mississippi Barksdale AFB, Louisiana Lajes Field, Azores Islands and Lincoln, Nebraska. After leaving the Air Force as Captain in 1957, the family moved to Nashville, Arkansas where they had a ranch and raised Hereford cattle. He was instrumental in organizing the Arkansas Cattlemans Association and served as its first president. In 1966 after selling the Arkansas ranch, he became an agent for the Internal Revenue Service serving in Abilene and Wichita Falls before transferring to Odessa where he retired in 1990.

Graveside services will be at noon, Tuesday, June 1 at Sunset Memorial Gardens, 6801 E. Highway 80 in Odessa.

Cemetery