Jimmy Wayne Davenport

Jimmy Wayne Davenport, 88, of Moberly, Missouri, passed away March 12, 2026, after a brief illness. Jim was surrounded by his family as he peacefully walked through Heaven’s gates. He was deeply loved as a husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend, and his presence will be greatly missed.

Jim was born December 22, 1937, to Lyndell and Marie Davenport and lived in Madison on the family farm until he graduated high school. Following high school graduation, Jim lived In Washington DC working in the fingerprinting department at the FBI. He often spoke about how he loved walking across the National Mall and wandering through the Smithsonian Museums. It is no surprise that Jim ended up teaching history. It was in Washington DC that he dedicated his life to Christ. His faith was central to Jim’s life and he lived his life in service of that faith.

Jim earned both a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Arts degree from Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College (now Truman State University). In his early teaching positions, Jim taught in the Madison, Shelbina and Macon school districts. While teaching in Shelbina, Jim led his students to a local drug store where they staged a sit-in as a civil rights protest. Jim began teaching in Salisbury in 1968 and retired in 2001 after 33 years of service to the students in the Salisbury school district. Jim loved teaching and supporting his students. His favorite subjects to teach were World History and World Cultures and he looked forward to taking his students on an annual field trip to the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. Jim was recognized for his gift of teaching by being named Outstanding Young Educator early in his career in Salisbury.

Ever the teacher, Jim continued to teach long after he retired. He spent hours preparing to teach his Sunday School class, even doing so the week before he died. He was an active member of Northpark Baptist Church. Jim devoted his life to God and lived out his faith by ministering to others in times of need. He served for a period of time as Industrial Chaplain at North Village.

Jim had the biggest heart and cared for all living things. He did not know a stranger and could find something to talk about with everyone he met. Jim took great pride in creating flower beds around his home. He loved spending time in the woods on the family farm, finding wildflowers he could transplant to his home garden. Jim had a soft spot for animals and had many pets over his lifetime. Jim loved his most recent pet, his cat, Boogie, who had mutual admiration for his cat dad and was his constant companion.

Jim’s love of memorabilia led him to his favorite pastime of curating booths in local antique stores. Jim never met a garage sale he didn’t like. Saturday mornings were spent searching for treasures he could add to his booths. His favorite finds were great books, postcards and unique art.

Above all things on earth, Jim loved his family. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Norma Davenport. Jim is also survived by his brother Jerry Davenport and his wife, Linda, who he talked to nearly every Sunday for the past 33 years. Jim was the proud father of daughter, Elizabeth McKown and her husband, Richard, and son, Tim Zelade and his wife, Gina. He loved being Grandpa to Tanner Zelade, Olivia McKown, Maddy Zelade, Madeline McKown, Dylan Seldal and fiancé, Reagan; Payton Seldal and partner, Trevor and Cassidy Seldal. Jim was known as Great-Grandpa to Ava Zelade, Kalise Griggs, Rosalee Gibson, Koa Crews, Leila Crews, Blakely Breesawitz, Liberty Breesawitz, Theo Seldel, Clara Bloom, Ila Bloom and Oliver Knox. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Lyndell and Marie Davenport. Jim’s death leaves a giant void in the lives of those who loved him but comfort comes from knowing Jim is in Heaven and free of pain.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. with Funeral services beginning at 12:00 p.m., at Pathway Millard Family Funeral Chapel, 411 Union Ave, Moberly, MO 65270. Interment will follow services at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Madison, Missouri.