Richard "Rick" Ernest Davis, devoted father and husband passed away peacefully on August 28, 2024, in Cochran, Georgia at the age of 71 after a full life. He was a native of Macon, born on January 17, 1953, to Miriam (Ogletree) and Fred. For the latter half of his life, he was a resident of Jacksonville. His life was one of care for others, industriousness, learning and above all playfulness.

He attended Willingham High School in Macon. As a teenager he overcame a life-threatening car accident and a long convalescence. He married his high school sweetheart Carol and attended Middle Georgia College. His father was an accomplished builder and Rick followed that path into the construction industry. He built or rebuilt multiple houses in Middle Georgia including homes for his own family. A highpoint was his leadership role on the restoration of Terminal Station in downtown Macon.

He had a fiercely independent character alongside a consistent interest in the well-being of others. He was a man of his time – he partook fully of the music, culture and experimentation of his generation. He was a practitioner of wordplay and wit and was fluent in multiple dialects of sarcasm. He was especially fond of solving problems, only some of which he himself had created.

He searched for novelty but held one thing constant – engagement with his children and later his grandchildren. He was quick to offer encouragement and support, quick to answer a phone call, and quick to bring fun and play into challenging situations. He liked to teach youngsters how to fish, work on engines, and cook greasy food. He found joy in driving his pick-up truck, often listening to Southern rock, sometimes with his kids in the truck bed enjoying the wind.

He was blessed to spend thirty years with his loving wife Paula (Robley) who preceded him in death in 2022. They enjoyed raising rabbits together. He was also predeceased by his ex-wife Carol (Von Steenburgh) and his sister Gale.
He is survived by his daughter Carly (and Frederique) of Jacksonville, daughter April (and Ly) Leng of Frisco, TX, son Seth Stephens of Arizona, son Jared of Atlanta, daughter Stacie (and Al) Letson of Jacksonville, daughter Angela of New Bern, NC, and son Richard of New York City; sister Pamela (and Carl) Bland of Columbus, brother Donald of Cochran, and sister Nancy (and Rocky) of Lenoir City, TN; eleven grandchildren; six nieces and nephews; and a cat named Scout.

A celebration of life will be held after a period of time, on a date and at a place yet to be determined.