In a quiet Vancouver neighborhood, in the early morning of Sunday, September 16th, Dr. John T. Davis lost his long battle with cancer, and those of us he left behind know we have lost a great man. He will be remembered and respected as a father, a teacher, a historian, a collector, a smokejumper, and a friend. From Neah Bay, Washington to Storrs, Connecticut, John left a legacy as a man among men. Long after we are gone the American Museum of Radio and Electricity in Bellingham will proudly display his world famous Edison lightbulb collection, a high school library in Hockinson bearing his name will remind its patrons of the man who brought their school to life, and hundreds of his former students will pass on the wisdom, generosity, and work ethic that he imparted to them with every lesson.
John was born in Winthrop to Richard (Slug) and Joy Bell Davis February 26th, 1947. He graduated from high school there in 1965, and after a near-catastrophic smokejumping injury in 1966, he went on to Eastern Washington University to achieve a BA and Masters in Education. His degrees and hard work eventually led him to Goldendale, Washington, where he became the principal of Goldendale Middle School. An admiring teacher introduced him to Sheila Catterall, who he married on the eve of the Mt. St. Helens explosion in 1980. Ever ambitious, John, Sheila, and their four children moved to Storrs, Connecticut in 1982. It was an adventure around every corner in the northeast, literally and figuratively, as John and Sheila spent nearly every weekend exploring the twisting back roads of their new home, filling the trunk of their little Ford Falcon with antiques from Maine to Maryland. In the spring of 1985, Mr. Davis became Dr. Davis, graduating with a PhD in Education from the University of Connecticut.
Armed with this new documented proof of his intelligence and hard work, Dr. Davis moved to Kelso, Washington where he served as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for 9 years. From there he moved on to a Superintendent of Schools position in a sleepy little K-through-8 district in Hockinson, Washington. That school board didn’t know what they were in for when he took over that front office, until 6 years later, after negotiating with and impressing the Gates Foundation, Hockinson High School was born. The school is a work of art. From the biology books to the basketball hoops, it represents the vision Dr. Davis had for a quality educational institution. John retired from Hockinson in 2001, and this past September 13th, the school dedicated the beautiful new library to him.
John is survived by his children, Damon (Sabrina) Hess of Portland, Tobin (Gladys) Hess of Seattle, Mignon (James) Heggen of Missoula, Montana, and Carson (Nicole) Davis of Vancouver; his grandchildren, Ethan, Owen, Madeleine, Miles, Nathaniel, Quinn and Piper; his sisters Charlotte Davis of Seattle, Carolyn Longanecker, Cindy Davis and Lori Davis Bailey of Spokane; his brother Rick (Kathy) Davis of Everett, Washington; nephews Don Waller, Sam Longanecker, Skyler Longanecker, and Daniel Swartz; niece Joy Longanecker; and cousins Willie and Donna Kemper of Twisp, Washington and Don and Betty Milam of Bothell, Washington.
John was preceded in death by his parents Richard (Slug) and Joy Bell Davis of Winthrop and his grandparents Foster and Cora Davis of Winthrop and Frank and Ruby Pemberton of Winthrop.
Memorial services will be held Tuesday, September 25th at 7:00 at Hockinson High School Auditorium at 16819 NE 159th St, Brush Prairie, Washingtion and Sunday, October 14th at 2:00 at The Barn in Winthrop, Washington. John requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation at 1-800-757-2873 or www.prostatecancerfoundation.org. Arrangements are by Evergreen Memorial Garden (360-892-6060) in Vancouver, Washington.
