Julian Maurice “Chubby” Davison, 85, died Monday July 27, 2009, at 1:29 p.m.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 1, with a morning visitation in the vestibule one hour before services at First United Methodist Church, Buchanan, with Pastor Rob McPherson officiating.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, July 31 at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

He was born Sept. 3, 1923, to Thomas William and Flora Jane Davison on a diary farm outside DuQuoin, Illinois.

Chubby played the e-flat tuba for the high school band and also played on the high school football team.  In 1941, he played in the state championship game against Champagne Urbana.

In 1942, he graduated from high school, and soon after came to Buchanan.

He worked for Alice and Sam McClellan and then Clark Equipment Company. He joined the Army Air Force in 1943 and served three years as a crew chief for B24 bombers.

While Chubby was in the service he met Geneva Augusta Bennett in Charleston, S. C.
They married after the war, in Owensboro, Ky. Chubby and Geneva returned to Buchanan and he continued working for Clark Equipment until his retirement in 1983, after 42 years of service.

Chubby and Geneva bought 10 acres and built their first home on Mayflower Road in 1951 where they raised their children, Barbara, Bill and Bennett. He was a loving husband and father. While building his second home on Mayflower Road, he passed on his craftsmanship to his children, wife and nephews. He was able to live in his family built home until his death.

Chub was very active in Boy Scout Troop 541 of Buchanan since 1963. He was honored by the troop at their 75th anniversary in 2001.

Chub loved farming the land and he has planted thousands of trees. He started his own sawmill, a life-long dream, in 2001. He traveled many miles with his wife Geneva and the Good Sam Trailer Club. He taught club members how to finish leather belts, which they sold and contributed all proceeds to Hearing Ear Dogs of Michigan.

After losing Geneva to ALS, he married Katherine Jones Davison and enlarged his family to include her daughter, Lana, Lana’s husband Richard Kemp, grandson, Troy and great-grandson Tannin. Chub loved being a part of the lives of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Katie, Adam, Ashley, Troy, Tannin, Hunter, River, Stone, Gavin and recently the joyful birth of his first great-granddaughter, Lillian.

Chub had lots of stories to tell and many lessons to teach to his family and friends. We will all miss him very much and feel blessed that he was a part of our lives.

He is survived by Barbara Davison, Bill and wife Mary Davison, Bennett and wife Suzan Davison; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church in Buchanan; Boy Scout Troop 541 of Buchanan; or the Hearing Ear Dogs of Michigan.

Arrangements were by Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.