Samuel J. (‘Joe’) Davis

April 11, 1937 – June 21, 2021

Joe passed away on June 21, 2021, while heading out for a three-week vacation, in Multnomah County, Oregon.

Joe was born to James Arthur Davis and Jeanette Ellen Patton in Wapato, Washington, on April 11, 1937. He was the youngest of three and by far the spunkiest. Joe met the love of his life, Judy Ann Krogel, in high school and they were wed on Sept. 3, 1955. Their first home was in Moses Lake, Washington. Children soon followed: Deb, Carol, Cheryl, Joe and Mike.

Joe often told stories about growing up in Moses Lake, how his family lived in tents the first two years after moving here. He was a very long-term fixture in the community. He graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1955. His stories of driving on the lake when it froze over in the winter tell a tale of the conditions of that time. Moses Lake was a very different place then.

In 1969, Joe moved his family to Royal City, but they continued to maintain strong ties to the Moses Lake area. His mother lived there until 1980. He and his wife Judy and their two sons were preparing his mother’s house for sale on the day that Mount St. Helens erupted and dumped several inches of ash over the surrounding area.

In 1997, he retired from the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District (which he, tongue-in-cheek, referred to as the “Irritation District”). He and Judy returned to Moses Lake, where they picked up as if they had never left. Joe worked for several years for the Grant County Transit Authority as a bus driver. Eventually he moved to the Moses Lake School District and drove a school bus for several years. He later became a bus driver assistant and rode the special needs bus. That was one of his favorite jobs. He truly enjoyed working with the kids, and on Fridays, he would wear funny or comical hats to help entertain them. He once misunderstood a certain emoji that was turned into a hat; he was confused about why the kids called it “poop hat.” When he learned of the actual meaning he thought that was quite funny but didn’t wear it to school again. In his mid-80s Joe could have easily retired from the school district, but he enjoyed the interaction with the kids so much he frequently said he would do that job until he died. Little did he know the truth of that statement.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife Judy of 63 years; one brother Curtis, one sister Jean and one baby boy, James. He is survived by his five children Deb (Bob) Murphy, Carol (Bryan) Cosper, Cheryl Davis, Joe Davis and Mike (Denise) Davis; 13 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.

There will be a memorial on Aug. 14 at noon in Moses Lake, lunch being served. If you would like to attend, please send an email to debra.murphy@gmail.com or text to (509) 760-7010 with how many will be attending. Location will be sent to you.