James Ellis Davis, 80, of Laurel, Miss., passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, December 4, 2009 at First United Methodist Church in Laurel with burial to follow at 3:30 p.m. Friday at New Palestine Cemetery in Picayune, Miss. The Rev. Gene Horton will officiate.

He was retired from NASA and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Laurel. He was a life member of the Picayune Lion’s Club, Picayune Bass Masters Association, Kiwanis Club and The Military Officer’s Association. He was a veteran in the Korean Conflict.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Ellen Davis in 1992.

He is survived by: his wife, Jean Ellis Davis of Laurel; two daughters, Leslie Davis Merritt (Greg) of Hattiesburg and Elizabeth (Betsy) Davis Ivey of Laurel; one step-daughter, Nancy Ellis Keith of Houston, Texas; two step-sons, Robert Sigler Ellis, Jr. (Ellen) of Lafayette, La. and Thomas Ogden Ellis (Sylvia) of Laurel; nine grandchildren: Gregory Wade Merritt, Jr., Leigh Caroline Merritt, Davis Albritton Merritt, William Davis Ivey, Richard Clay Ivey, Mary Frances Ivey, Victoria Leigh Ellis, Annalee Ellis Schaeffer, and John Robert Ellis; and one sister, Martha Davis Jovanovich of San Diego, Calif.

Pallbearers will be: Dr. Greg Merritt, Dr. Kevin Ivey, Wade Merritt, Davis Merritt, William Ivey, and Clay Ivey.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Diabetes Association or First United Methodist Church of Laurel.

Visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Friday, December 4, 2009.