James Davenport, longtime Ballard barber and owner of the 65-year-old Smitty's Barber Shop on 15th Avenue, passed away from cardiac arrest June 16. He left in his wake friends, family, coworkers and customers who will remember him for his love of life and his heart of gold.

Davenport was born just after midnight on Feb. 15, 1955 in Texas, though he always told people is birthday was Valentine's Day, said friend and neighbor Jeannie Rae.

Davenport started working at Smitty's, located at 5819 15th Avenue Northwest, about 20 years ago and was present for the shop's 50th anniversary in 1994. He took over the neighborhood barber shop when owner Joyce Crow died about three years ago.

Pennie Clark Ianniciello has lived next to Smitty's for the past 10 years. She said Davenport had a heart of gold and was the most caring person.

"James was bigger than life and was really loved by the neighborhood," Ianniciello said.

Rae said Davenport loved people in all their quirks and idiosyncrasies. He was a big part of people's lives in Ballard, she said.

"He was the consummate storyteller," Rae said. "He had a love of life that was giant."

Rae said she remembers Davenport dropping of holiday decorations on her porch if he felt she was lacking in holiday spirit and being disappointed when no one noticed his April Fools' Day pranks.

She said Davenport had a kind of small-town mentality – if something was going wrong in someone's life, he would just show up and be there for them.

"He had an amazing capacity to love people and involve them in his world," she said.

For the two decades Pasta Bella has been located on 15th Avenue, owner David Rasti and Davenport were neighbors. Rasti said Davenport was a great neighbor and had a keen eye for what was going on in the neighborhood.

Once when Davenport saw someone breaking into Rasti's car, he chased the suspect all over the neighborhood trying to catch him, Rasti said.

"It's not going to be the same around here without him," he said.

On a poster memorializing Davenport outside Smitty's, friends, neighbors and customers have left memories of him, recalling his great heart, laughter and pranks.

"You will always be such a beloved part of our neighborhood," reads one message.

"You were part of our neighborhood and part of our lives," reads another.

Kari Goings, who has worked at Smitty's on and off for the past 15 years, said they aren't quite sure what is going to happen to the barber shop.

"We just want to keep it open," Goings said. "It's an icon. It's been open for 60 years."

Employee Lourdes Espinoza said she is probably going to take over Smitty's.

There will be a celebration of Davenport's life in July, possibly taking the form of a Friday-night block party.