HAVERHILL: Kingsbury (King) Davis passed away on August 23, 2019 at High Pointe Hospice House. King was the youngest son of the late State Senator and Attorney John Bradford Davis and Edna Maxfield Davis. He was predeceased in death by his three brothers, Dr. John Bradford Davis Jr., Allan V.V. Davis and George S. Davis. He attended Haverhill Public Schools, Proctor Academy, Andover, NH; Champlain College (NYU Branch) in Plattsburg, NY, and real estate courses at Boston University.
In 1957, King married Suzanne (Poore) of Haverhill, and they resided in Bradford and Haverhill. The Davises have three daughters and sons-in-law: Jennifer Davis and Christopher Newbury of Nahant, Cynthia Davis Jackson and Joshua Jackson of Merrimac and Kathryn Kingsbury Howard and James Howard of South Weymouth, as well as six grandchildren: Davis Kingsbury Jackson, Maxfield Geoffrey Jackson, Wesley Newbury, Victoria Davis Newbury, Jameson Kingsbury Howard and Georgianna Suzanne Howard. He also leaves a large extended family including many beloved and admired nieces and nephews.
King and Suzanne "Tudy", spent time for many years at their home on Lake Winnipesaukee enjoying the beauty of the lake and mountains and watching their children and grandchildren grow and appreciate nature in its best form. King especially liked to cruise the shore in his boat, checking in with neighbors and looking at real estate!
King enlisted in the United States Army in 1953 and was discharged in 1955 after serving in Frankfurt, Germany, during the Korean Conflict with the 4th Infantry Division. He then entered into the real estate business in 1956 with strong encouragement from his brother George. For 50-+ years he owned and operated The King Davis Real Estate Agency with his long and admired partner, Roger C. Chadwick. At one time with the help of Steve DeSisto, the late Fran Cleary and many others, they had offices in Haverhill, Bradford, Georgetown and Amesbury, MA, as well as, Plaistow and Hampstead, NH. King was a partner of Davis, Davis and Moody Insurance Agency. He served as President of the Greater Haverhill Board of Realtors and Multiple Listing Service, was recognized by various Realtor organizations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and was elected an honorary member of the North Shore Board of Realtors. He was also instrumental in establishing the Haverhill, MA, and Rockingham, NH, Board of Realtor's Multiple Listing Service.
King's passion for his hometown, Haverhill, was obvious by the impressive list of titles and honorary awards bestowed upon him by numerous business, volunteer and non-profit organizations with which he felt privileged to be associated. Some of those recognitions include: recipient of B'nai B'rith Award, Rotary Paul Harris Award, Realtor of the Year awards for MA and NH, Lone Tree Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen's Award. He was an incorporator of the former Haverhill Savings Bank; Trustee of the Whittier Birthplace, Pentucket 5Cent Savings Bank, a Director of BayBank Merrimack Valley and BayBank Middlesex, the Haverhill YMCA, Trustee of the Baptist Religious Society in Haverhill, and Chaired the Prudential Committee, Bradford College, Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill Historic Inc., Proctor Academy, and Haverhill Women's City Club. He was a 60 year member and Past President of the Haverhill Rotary Club, member of Saggahew Lodge A.F. & A.M., Fortnightly Essex Club, Past President of the Greater Haverhill United Fund and Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce. He chaired many fundraising campaigns over the years including the Isaac Merrill Foundation Park, United Way, Haverhill Historical Society, YMCA, First Baptist Church and VNA Hospice Home. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Haverhill Home Health VNA, now Merrimack Valley Hospice including the High Pointe House. During King's tenure as president of the Haverhill United Fund he assisted in the organization of Career Resources Corp.
King was most appreciative of the care given to him by Tudy and his daughters, particularly Cynthia, partly due to her living nearby and working in the family business.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Wednesday, August 28th at 2:00 pm, at First Baptist Church, 217 Main Street, Haverhill. At the family's request there will be no calling hours. Interment at Linwood Cemetery will be private. Arrangements under the direction of Dole, Childs & Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main St., Haverhill. In lieu of flowers donations in King's memory may be made to a Greater Haverhill youth organization of your choice, Emmaus House, P.O. Box 568, Haverhill, MA 01831, or First Baptist Church (c/o Church Trustees), 217 Main St. Haverhill, MA 01830. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.dcsfuneralhome.com