Roderick Alexander "Rod" Davis

It is with great sadness that we, Rod’s family, announce the passing of Roderick Alexander Davis. Rod passed on Oct. 01, 2024, at the age of 73 years, following a hard-fought battle with lung cancer. The youngest of the four Davis ‘boys’, Rod was born on August 9, 1951 in Yarmouth, N.S., to Samuel Bancroft (Banny) Davis and Orris (Fillmore) Davis.

Rod grew up in Yarmouth with his 3 older brothers. His childhood friends describe young Roddy as a ‘happy go lucky’ guy who loved hanging out with the neighbourhood kids, all of them riding their bicycles and later as young teens, working on their old cars (most of the vehicles he and his friends had were junkers back then). At one point he and a friend dreamed of a racing car career, they bought an old race car that ‘looked good’ but had no motor. Although they had enthusiasm and ambition, the boys never did manage to get a motor installed, so that was the end of the racing career! There were also many happy family gatherings in Yarmouth, car trips to Florida to visit the grandparents, and summers spent at Y-Camp

After completing high school, Rod attended Yarmouth Vocational School and studied drafting. In Saint John, N.B., Rod worked for a time on the tug-boats as a deckhand and was described as a good shipmate, enjoying lots of laughs with his co-workers. He then moved to Calgary with friends, where among other jobs, he was employed with a cable television company. Eventually Rod decided to return to Yarmouth and he then worked as a printer with his brother Dick at Sentinel Printing Limited. Printing became Rods lifetime career. Changes in the printing industry resulted in Rod eventually relocating to Kentville, N.S., where he continued working as a printer with Fundy Group Publications until his retirement.

Rod was an avid traveler and cyclist, and enjoyed many trips with his brother Ralph, cycling around the world in countries such as Switzerland, Ireland, France, Belgium and Denmark.
His last trip was only a few years ago when Covid restrictions were lifted, and he travelled to Mexico and enjoyed exploring all the country had to offer.

Another great love of Rods was gardening. At one time he had a wonderful asparagus patch in the backyard at the family home 24 James St., in Yarmouth and in Kentville he had both a great backyard garden (his tomatoes and cucumbers were fabulous) and he also participated in the community garden. Rod also loved to just sit in his backyard and watch the birds, he kept the feeders full and enjoyed the woodpeckers and all the little finches that came to the feeders.

Rod was predeceased by his parents S. Bancroft Davis, & Orris Davis, brother W.R. (Dick) Davis, nephew Christopher Davis and sisters-in-law, Peggy (Baker) Davis, and Cynthia (Fuller) Davis.

Rod is survived by his two brothers, Frank Bancroft Davis (Calgary), and
Ralph Harold Davis (wife Cara Davis) (Halifax); sister-in-law, Loretta Davis (Yarmouth); and his beloved nieces and nephews, Eric Davis (Vancouver), Alexandra Chadwick (Vancouver), Trudy Davis (widow of Chris Davis) USA, Ruth Purdy (Calgary), Loran Davis (Calgary), Sarah Sparke (Calgary), Jonathan Davis (Montreal), Mark Davis (Yarmouth), Charlotte Davis (Yarmouth), Jeremy Rutledge (Halifax) and Graham Rutledge (Portland, Me). Rod is also survived by his first cousins, John Clulee (Yarmouth NS), Janet Duncan (Almonte,,Ontario), Nancy MacKenzie (Weymouth, NS), Donna Freeze (Langley, BC), Walter Davis (Bancroft, Ontario) and Joy Bradley (Almonte, Ontario).

There will be no funeral (at Rods request); however, a private family memorial will be held at a later date and Rods ashes will be interred in the family plot at Yarmouth Mountain Cemetery, Yarmouth, N.S. Arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. Online condolences and inquiries may be directed to www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.