Leonda T. "Lee" Davis 1928-2005

Leonda T. "Lee" Davis passed over Jan. 9 at University of Washington Hospital, Seattle. Lee was born March 10, 1928 in Charlis Heights/Hamilton, Mont. to Harold and Margaret (Tipton) Davis. He was the sixth of seven children. In 1932, the family sold their strawberry farm and moved to Ellensburg where they started another strawberry farm. In 1943, the family moved to Sumner, where they continued to farm.

In 1945, Lee joined the U.S. Coast Guard. He had served 16 months when his father died and he was given a hardship discharge. In 1948, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served 18 months. He then went back to Sumner High School and got his diploma. In 1949, he married Catherine L. McNiven and in 1953, they moved from Sumner to Seattle.

In 1955, Lee went to work for the U.S. Postal Service. On Oct. 31, 1983, he retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He remained active in Branch 79 of the National Association of Letter Carriers until his death. He was a member of the Seattle and Moses Lake Loyal Order of the Moose for 45 years. He enjoyed golfing, and his large family.

On March 17, 1967, Lee married Jeanne Eccles Stilwill (a second marriage for both) and they joined their two families into one.

Lee is survived by his wife, Jeanne, sister Nancy (Davis) Day, brothers-in-law Jack Day and Stan Eccles, sister-in-law Bonnie Eccles, mother-in-law Margaret Eccles, seven children: Pamela (Davis) and Barry Nelson, Karen (Davis) Smullin, Lisa (Davis) Quaring, Eleanor (Stilwill) and Robert Kirkpatrick, Margaret (Stilwill) and Lyle Graddon, Gloria (Stilwill) and Ron Cope and Steven Stilwill. Also 21 grandchildren: Kristine (Nelson) and Nathan Bowles, Kelly Nelson; Corey and Cody Smullin; Brock Davis and Robert Quaring; Christopher Nelson, Rebecca (Nelson) and Christopher Woods, Kevin Kirkpatrick, Jason and Chelsey Kirkpatrick, Issac Kirkpatrick and Amanda Kirkpatrick; Brian, Maria and Blair Graddon; Aaron and Carly Cope, James and Tara Cope; Zachary, Jessica, Nickolas and Claire Stilwill. Fifteen great-grandchildren: Ann Marie Bowles, Julia Lee Montoya; Cassidy Smullin; Brenna and Lauren Woods, Taylor and Tucker Kirkpatrick, Zoe and Zondra Kirkpatrick; Nakiah Kirkpatrick; Addie Cope; Alivia, Hannah and Samual Cope; Zekial Stilwill; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Margaret (Tipton) Davis; four sisters, Florence Hart, Mary Wallace, Hazel Sanderson and Virginia Gilmour; one brother, Harold Davis; and his beloved Dapple Dachshund, George.

Lee was a member of the Moses Lake Church of Christ. His Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26 at the Big Bend Library Convention Center. The service will be co-officiated by Fred Reimer, Moses Lake Church of Christ, and Lee's son-in-law, Ron Cope, Coeur d'Alene Church of Christ.