James Church, 59, died April 1, 2008, after a brief battle with cancer. A nine-year member of GCSAA, Mr. Church began his career with a business degree from Central Michigan University in 1970. He lived most of his adult life in Colorado, and worked as an accountant for Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Following that job, Mr. Church became the owner of Mountain Spirits Party Store before returning to Michigan and completing the agronomy program at Michigan State University. He then moved to Durango, Colo., and began working for Dalton Ranch GC. Mr. Church also worked at Skyland Resort and CC in Crested Butte. His work on golf courses was a passion of Mr. Church’s. He also enjoyed spending his winters in the Arizona desert. Mr. Church is survived by his father, Richard Church; a brother, David Church and wife, Jane; a sister, Martha Church and husband, Justin; a niece, Emily Church; a nephew, John Church; and his former wife, Miriam. He was preceded in death by his mother, Frances, and a sister, Anne.

William (Bill) Davis Jr., 59, died Dec. 25, 2008, after a long illness. Born in 1949 in Brighton, Mich., Mr. Davis served with the First Cavalry in Vietnam and Cambodia. He was one of many veterans who contracted chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a result of exposure to Agent Orange. After his service, he pursued a degree in turfgrass management from Michigan State University, becoming a member of the second graduating class from the school’s turfgrass management program. He worked for several golf courses during his career, including Orchard Lake (Mich.) CC; Marywood CC in Battle Creek, Mich.; the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif.; The Vintage Club in Indian Wells, Calif.; Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach, Calif.; and The Peninsula CC in San Francisco. Along the way, he spearheaded two reconstruction projects and the design and reconstruction of the driving range at Spyglass Hill. Mr. Davis, a certified golf course superintendent for 30 years, retired from managing CourseCo golf courses in San Jose, Calif., in 2008. A lover of music, Mr. Davis began taking his son (Bill Davis III, a Class A superintendent based in northern California) to rock concerts when he was 4 years old. A private celebration of life was performed at Mr. Davis’s favorite place — Pebble Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the California Pacific Medical Center Foundation with Dr. Wakil, a specialist in liver transplants and research, named in the memo section. Mr. Davis was preceded in death by his mother, Geraldine. His survivors include his wife, Pat; his son, Bill Davis III (pictured with him); his granddaughter, Brittany Davis; his father, William Davis; and three sisters, Jeanne Dunk, Mary Fredette and Kathleen Ion.