Joseph Kenneth Davis

Joseph Kenneth Davis, of Paducah, KY, passed away suddenly on Saturday, August 8, 2026. He was born on August 20, 1935, in Detroit, Michigan, to Joseph Dewey and Essie Mae (Farmer) Davis. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Jean Gresham Davis. He is survived by his son, Jeff Davis and his wife Leah Chester-Davis, and many friends. 

Some called him Joe and some called him Ken, either of which he answered to, and he was known for rarely calling others by their right name. “A character” might be the best way to describe him. He was jolly and happy-go-lucky and loved nothing more than cutting up and having a good laugh. Except when he got mad, and then he had an explosive temper that challenged him. He maintained a youthful outlook throughout most of his life, up until his last moments on this earth.

He fixated on a few things like lawn mowers and maintaining a perfect, golf-course-like lawn.  A family joke was that his photo was up at the local lawn mower dealer as the best customer of the century. (He traded for a new and bigger mower about every year.)

Ken was born into a large family (he had eight siblings) and didn't have the easiest childhood. He enlisted in the Marines as a young man, stationed in California, serving from 1954 to 1957. He left service, returned to Detroit, and began working for the Ford Motor Car Company where he remained until retirement. When Ken and Jean retired in 1990, they moved to western Kentucky, the area where extended family lived or had lived. 

While his time in high school was short, he believed in education. He emphasized to Jeff the importance of obtaining a college degree rather than working on the auto assembly line.

Another love was hockey. His team was the Detroit Red Wings.  He rarely missed a televised game and knew the names of all the players and their stats. Though he retired to Kentucky, he never quite understood the focus on basketball. Something wasn't quite right when the local paper didn't even cover hockey. Many a rant about that ensued.

He had a deep admiration for and friendship with many law enforcement officers, military service members, and veterans. His early-in-life service in the Marines became a larger-than-life point of pride in his later years. He rarely missed a Memorial Day or Veterans Day celebration. He was proud to offer a July 4 observance at The Lakes of Paducah, his last home, and was already planning the presentation he wanted to give on Veterans Day.

Ken loved dogs - hot dogs, corn dogs, chili dogs, Chicago dogs - and always wanted to have plenty of spending money in his pocket in case he passed a hot dog stand. His favorite dogs were West Highland white terriers, and he owned several through the years. 

Ken was a member of the church of Christ, and he and Jean had been members of the Lone Oak Church of Christ in Paducah. During her long illness, which Ken faithfully made sure she was well cared for in the home, he didn't have a chance to attend church. The past four years he rotated among the Benton Church of Christ, and Broadway Church of Christ and Houser Road Church of Christ, both in Paducah.

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 12, 2026 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM with the service following at 1:00 PM, at Collier Funeral Home, located at 211 West 5th Street Benton, KY 42025. Officiating will be his long-time friend Craig Yates.
 
Burial will be at the Benton Church of Christ Cemetery with Military Rites. Brief graveside remarks by Marlen Wood.

Memorial contributions may be sent to: American Legion Post #236 25 Littlejohn Lane Calvert City, KY 42029 or to Children’s Homes, Inc. 5515 Walcott Road,
Paragould, AR 72450 or by website at www.childrenhomes.org.