Jerry Davis

Jerry Douglas Davis, 60, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, March 5, 2003, in an airplane crash near Sparta, Ill.

He was born Nov. 9, 1942, in Cape Girardeau, son of Waddy E. and Elsie Mae Carter Davis. He and Judith K. Barnhouse were married in 1964.

Jerry graduated from College High School in 1961, and attended Southeast Missouri State University.

He formerly owned Royal N'Orleans, Ricardo's, Shakey's Pizza and Pfister's Drive-In. Jerry opened McDonald's in July 1968 and currently owned and operated 13 McDonald's restaurants.

Jerry raised and bred Tennessee Spotted Walking Horses, and was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He was a lifetime member of NRA, member of Kiwanis Club, and was a class 1 sporting clay instructor. His name was inscribed on the Kiwanis International Foundation Tablet of Honor.

He served in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne from 1962 to 1965.

Survivors include two sons, Shannon Davis and Dr. Ryan Davis; a daughter, Jessica Megan Davis; his mother, Elsie Mae Davis; a brother, Phil Davis; five grandchildren, Raleigh Davis, Graeme Davis, Brogan Davis, Emery Davis and Grayson Davis, all of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by his father and a sister.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ronald McDonald House Children's Charity or the charity of one's choice.