Gerald Davis

Gerald "Jerry" Davis, 76, passed away Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at his home in Jackson, with his family by his side.

He was born Aug. 2, 1946, in Cape Girardeau. He was the son to the late Paul and Maxine Davis.

Jerry was a graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1964, where he met his wife, Roxie Houseman Davis. Roxie and Jerry were married in 1967. Jerry worked and ran the family farm with his father several years, and worked with Ramsey Plumbing and Heating doing sheet-metal work.

Jerry's biggest passion, outside of his family, was finding and collecting Native American artifacts. He collected artifacts for nearly 60 years in the five-state area. Jerry regularly attended artifact shows in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. Jerry hosted an annual artifact show in Cape Girardeau and Sikeston, Missouri, for 29-plus years. Many of Jerry's findings were published in books and journals.

He was one of the old-time collectors, seriously interested in artifacts and the people who made them. He was respected by his contemporaries and admired by those who were younger. His interest led him to walk hundreds of miles searching for artifacts. His legacy is the artifacts and the knowledge and stories he shared with other collectors.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Roxie Davis; children, Amy (Brian) Rivenburgh and Robyn (Jennifer) Davis; and granddaughters, Camryn and Caroline Rivenburgh.

Jerry was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Davis Jr., and sisters, Janet Hurley and Kimberly McClard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Funeral will immediately follow at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.