N.J. Man Brought 'Crazy Joy' Before Dying In Atlantic Ocean Surf, Friends Say

Donald "Donny" Davis didn't want anything too formal when he walked into his wedding reception.

Fancy introductions? Please.

Instead, Davis rode piggyback on his wife's back, right into the banquet hall.

This was the sort of the "crazy joy" Davis brought to people's lives for all of his 37 years, friends say.

"It was so 'Katie & Donny' to take crazy joy in each other and just have fun," wrote his friend, Michelle, on a tribute page for Davis.

And he probably brought that unbridled enthusiasm with him in the rough waters of the Atlantic Ocean last week, before Hurricane Matthew came to the Southeast.

There, the New Jersey man died this past week after being caught in a rip current off the coast of North Carolina, officials said.

Davis, of Deerfield, was pulled from the Outer Banks water by members of Corolla Beach Rescue, which also had to rescue a Good Samaritan who had tried to help Davis and was caught in the current, according to The Outer Banks Voice.

Davis, who was born in Woodbury, worked as an industrial roofer for J.H. Wilhelm Roofing in Vineland but was quite the adventurer on the side, according to his obituary.

Davis was an avid hunter and fisherman who played softball for the Devils Rejects and Wilhelm Roofing teams. He was also a guide for Drake's Waterfowl Guide Service, specializing in puddle ducks and hunting in the back creeks in the Fortescue Area, according to his obituary.

Being a guide may have made sense for somebody, his friends said, who had a smile on his face all the time.

Charlie Tillman wrote on Davis' tribute page that "Donny" was like a brother to him, and they spent a lot of time at each other's houses or doing family vacations together as kids.

"His smile and laugh was one of a kind," he wrote. "He was truly one of the greatest guys you could ever meet."

His tribute page scrolled deep with countless homages and pictures that paid respect to Davis and mourned his loss. Click here to see more.

A friend, Mat Hill, wrote that Davis was "the most amazing person I've ever met. He is the best friend I've ever had."

"Always had an open ear when I needed someone. Full of life and always had the best advice," he said. "He would call 10 times a day. Just to see what I was doing. I already miss those calls, to see his name come up on my phone. If you were having a down day, he would bring your mood right up."

His wife, Katie, wrote, too:

Donny was my husband and best friend. He taught me so many things in my life and taught me what true love was. We did everything together. You taught me how to be and feel like a family and gave me 3 beautiful daughters. I am so thankful to have had 7 years of love and married for 1 year. It is not enough time. I am never going to let go, please always stay with me and the girls.

His death happened Monday, Oct. 3 around 4:45 p.m. when Davis was pulled from a rip current off the beaches in North Carolina, according to the reports.

First responders were able to restore Davis’ pulse, but he died after he was flown by Dare Medflight to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. With the lower staffing levels in fall, lifeguards are on ATVs and in vehicles patrolling the beach, according to the reports.

The death had no connection to Hurricane Matthew.

Davis was unconscious after he was pulled from the water, and the good Samaritan tried to help him as he was caught in the current, according to the reports.

Davis is survived by his wife, Katie Davis of Deerfield; his daughters, Hanah, Haleigh and Holeigh Davis; his parents, Cindy and Donald Davis Sr. of Fortescue; his brother, Billy Davis of Fortescue and his daughters, Braelyn and Ashlyn; and many others.

Services were held on Monday, Oct. 10 in the Rone Funeral Home, 110 East Chestnut St., Vineland.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Davis Children College Fund, c/o Fulton Bank of N.J., 755 Morton Ave., Bridgeton, NJ 08302.

Photo: Rone Funeral Home