John (Jay) Stewart Davis

John “Jay” Stewart Davis, born December 10, 1957, in West Palm Beach, Florida, died peacefully on April 27, 2026. Jay’s life was a testament to quiet courage and generous spirit—innately optimistic, kind-hearted, and a dreamer of all things. He carried joy with him, shared it freely, and left it behind wherever he went. To those who knew him best, he was the keeper of family laughter and history, a gentle presence whose curiosity about the world was matched only by his love for the people in it.

A gifted photographer and writer, Jay saw wonder in ordinary moments and preserved them with care. He authored Gato and Bianca, a children’s book that reflected his playful imagination and tender heart, and he took special pride in researching and editing Clyde Stephens’s recently published Stephens Ancestors and Pioneer Relatives—work that married his passion for storytelling with his keen knowledge of genealogy. A devoted conservationist, he found solace in nature’s rhythms, and he championed the places and creatures that inspired him. Jay was active with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, where he contributed to public information and outreach related to Florida's vital water resources, Sarasota County Government strenghtening connections between local government and the community, and a member of several organizations including  the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, a founding member of the Florida Mystery Writers Conference where he formed meaningful relationships with acclaimed authors including Carl Hiaasen, Randy Wayne Wright, Tim Dorsey, and Tom Corcoran, the Florida Realtor Association, St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church, Lambha Chi Alpha Fraternity at the University of Florida, and he delighted in being a loyal Parrot Head, co-founding the Sarasota Bay Parrot Head Club. He was known for his love of music, his encyclopedic recall of historical facts, and the family trivia games he crafted for holidays—usually capped by his beloved “Dad joke of the day.” As he liked to remind everyone, “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.”

Jay is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Davis; his sister, Jan Lewis (Hal); Half sister Dianne Davis Tomlin (Jim); Half brother Tom Davis (Becky); Uncle, Ray Stewart; nieces, Cassie Baird (Ben), Carolyn Driskell (Matt); nephew, Chris Lewis. He is also lovingly remembered by extended family—Kim Davis, Jessica Ripley (Barry), Bekki Low, and a host of cousins—as well as many dear friends who became family along the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie and Joanne Davis, grandparents, Daisy and Gene Stewart and Inez Pierson.

From a young age, Jay faced significant medical challenges with uncommon strength and steadfast grace. He pressed forward, savoring life in full measure and teaching by example that resilience and gratitude can coexist with humor and hope. His legacy is one of kindness, creativity, and unshakable optimism. The family wishes to thank the Tidewell Hospice House staff in Arcadia for their kindness and love during a very difficult time—beyond grateful. Jay’s enduring light lives on in every story told, every song sung, and every shared laugh.