Stanley Baird Davidson

Stanley Baird Davidson, age 79, of Gainesville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 17, 2012, at home following an extended illness.

Visitation is scheduled for Monday, March 19, 2012. at Memorial Park Riverside Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. There will be no public service, and a cremation will follow.

Known and beloved by many, Stan was born on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1933 in Nashville, Tennessee to Mary Ethel (Peacock) and Henry Davidson. The family moved to Washington, DC. Following the death of his father, Stan's mother later married the late Fred Sedgewick.

After persuading his mother to sign the permission forms, Stan joined the Navy in 1951 at 17, and served as a Gunner's Mate on a destroyer. He served for 2-1/2 years, part of that time during the Korean War. Stan spent his time in the Navy patrolling the Mediterranean and seeing the world. Following his honorable discharge, Stan moved to Gainesville in 1956 where he would spend the remainder of his life. Friend to all and enemy to none, Stan gave generously of himself to his family, his community and his friends.

Stan coached the "Enota Hawks" football team for many years. He also formed a baseball team, known as the "Baker-Glover boys" and would drive around town, picking up boys who would not otherwise have had the opportunity to play baseball. Coaching third base while smoking a cigarette, always with a cooler full of ice-cold refreshment nearby, he invested heavily in young men who often had no other male role model in their lives.

Stan worked for Sears for 20 years, selling appliances, then moving into contract sales. He could sell anything to anyone. Past owner of the Downtowner Restaurant, he and his wife Judy opened The Biscuit Shoppe in 1980, where he became known to all as "Stan, the Biscuit Man". The Biscuit Shoppe was a place where the coffee pot was always on, the biscuits hot and fresh, and where the price of the biscuit depended on Stan's mood or what bills he needed to pay.

An avid golfer, he was part of the infamous Henry O's golfing group, playing every Tuesday. Now the Luna's Group, he continued to play until his health began to fail. He also played with the Marvin Peek group and the Saturday morning group. He enjoyed taking his little buddy, Stephen Sartain, to the driving range and always afterwards for milkshakes.

A member of the American Legion and the Elks Club of Gainesville, Stan was and will continue to be a fixture in Gainesville. Truly the kindest, gentlest soul you could ever meet, Stan spent his last years enjoying the company of friends, family and watching all kinds of sports on television with Stephen, from golf and NASCAR to Monster Truck rallies. He took the time to patiently instruct putting and driving to Stephen and other kids in the neighborhood, with the end result being golf balls scattered all over the backyards of the neighborhood.

Stan is survived by his wife of 38 years, Judith Kathryn Davidson. He is also survived by his son, Stanley B. Davidson, Jr. and wife Kim, daughters, Mary Janice "Nicy" Davidson, Deeann Roesel and husband Paul, and Kim Smith; grandchildren are Stanley B. Davidson, III and wife Stephanie, Chris Davidson and wife Amber, Kelli and husband Rusty, Devon and wife Rushelle, Seth and Madison Roesel, Jodi, Michael and Emily Smith; and 7 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Mary Lee Pennington and Margie Brown and brother-in law Charles Brown. is survived by a host of friends and neighbors, including Catherine, Sam, Hannah and Stephen Sartain, who will sorely miss his ready smile and the twinkle in his eyes. His parents, step- father, a brother, Charles Henry Davidson and a sister, Mary Ethel Lambers predeceased him.

The family expresses sincere gratitude to the nurses at the Oncology Center of the Diagnostic Clinic and to Dr. Andre Kallab. Their compassion and dedication over the past year has meant the world to the family. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to Hospice of NEGMC at 2150 Limestone Parkway, Suite 222, Gainesville, GA 30501 or a charity of your choice.

Memorial Park Funeral Home North