James "Jim" Everett Davee

James Everett Davee “Jim”, 96, of Stone Mountain, GA passed away on June 16, 2024. Born on March 17, 1928 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Lawrence Weston Davee and Muriel Goodrich Davee.

Jim was raised in Tenafly, NJ and attended the University of Maine in Orono where he graduated with honors, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While at the university, he played freshman football, played trombone in the band, ran for the track team and was a member of the men's chorus. Upon graduating from UMaine, Jim attended the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey where he received a master’s degree in engineering. Early in his career, he developed many of the standards used in Centrifugal Pump Design still in use today.

Jim grew up spending summers in Maine at the family camp (Ro-La-Mu-Ja) on Sebec Lake. While working at another camp on Seymour Lake in Vermont, he met his future wife, Miriam, affectionately known as Cookie.

He was in ROTC, and upon graduation, he enlisted as an officer in the Army. The newlyweds lived at Camp Gordon in Augusta, GA where their first daughter was born. They then moved back to the Northeast and lived in both Bloomfield and Livingston, New Jersey and in Simsbury, Connecticut where they made many life-long friends. During this time, their son and two other daughters were born, and Jim continued his career at Worthington and Hamilton Standard. In the early 70’s, Jim accepted a job with Roper Pump Company, so the family relocated to Athens, GA, where his love of the Georgia Bulldogs began.

Jim always loved music and singing, and you could always pick out his deep bass voice. Jim sang with the Athens Chamber Singers starting in their inaugural year. He also sang with the Trinity Community Choir, which performed both here and abroad. The family attended St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church where he sang in the choir and helped out wherever needed.

Whether at church or at home, everyone knew Jim was the guy to call when something needed fixing. No matter the task, Jim always did it with a smile on his face. He had the kindest soul, and everyone always said he was one of the nicest people they ever met. He was happiest when he was problem solving (designing more efficient pumps, helping with math homework or assisting neighbors with their mechanical issues). 

After living on Rollingwood Drive in Cedar Creek for over 30 years, they moved to Park Springs in Stone Mountain. While there, Jim performed in numerous shows with the Park Spring Players under the direction of Marvin Himmel. He especially enjoyed being part of the barbershop quartet acts.

Jim also loved to dance, and he surely was light on his feet. After his wife of 55 years passed away, he was at a dance class at Park Springs where another former Athenian, Pat Thomas, was in attendance. From that day forward, Jim and Pat enjoyed many years of dancing, seeing shows, and traveling both around the U.S. and internationally. His family expanded beyond his own, and he enjoyed attending any and all Georgia football games, vacations and dinners with Pat, her children, and grandchildren. Theirs was a wonderful relationship, and both families treasure the time they spent together.

Beyond everything he accomplished and all the wonderful relationships he had, there was something in Jim’s life that was so special, such a part of him, that he could see it in his mind’s eye at all times. Sebec Lake. Through boyhood adventures and adult summer vacations, he cherished every minute. He absolutely loved everything about it! Boating, skiing, fishing; watching the sun set behind Borestone Mountain, sitting by the old wood stove, hiking to the ice caves, playing records on the Victrola, puttering around fixing things (and something always needed fixing) and the company of family and friends.

Like his parents and brother before him, his presence will be felt there. If ever someone wants to feel close to him, they only need visit, because he will forever be there. His spirit will live on in the annual family Fourth of July parade (which he proudly led for years), the stories he told of time spent there and in the legacy of his son, a fellow engineer, his daughters, and the rest of his family, which continues to grow. Dad, we love you and we know you’ll be up at camp…in the breeze coming across the lake, in the waves lapping the shore and in the calls of the loons.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Miriam Newell Davee, his brother, Robert “Bob” Davee, and his granddaughter, Melanie Formaggioni.

Survivors include his children: Barbara Gauvain (Jim), Rick Davee (Anne-Marie), Diane Parr (Don), Heidi Davee; grandchildren: Kelly Formaggioni, Jamie Formaggioni (Chandra), Chris Parr (Jamie), Brooke Gebhardt (Chris), Jocelyn Davee; and nine great grandchildren.

Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville is entrusted with arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com.