Obituary: Davis, Harry
John areas, known for his musical talent and dedicated service as a Mason and Shriner, passed away peacefully on the morning of August 1st, 2015 due to cancer.
He was 90.
Harry was an unforgettable man who seemed to relate to every generation with his warmth and kindness.
The death of his father when Harry was 15 left him the family farm and a career that lasted almost three-quarters of a century, to harvests as recently as last summer.
He graduated from Lamont High School in 1943 and attended Eastern Washington University.
He and Irma Swift were married on May 8, 1948.
As a young man, he was a member of “M2K’s and D”, a band that played all over the county at Grange dances and was featured from 1950-59 at Sprague Lake, a hub of social activity then.
His love of playing music continued throughout his life.
He played his tenor saxophone for several El Katif Shrine groups, including the Concert Band, German Band and Dixieland Band, which performed in parades, nursing homes, and retirement homes in Spokane area, and also competed elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
Harry also performed on many occasions with his daughter, Carol, accompanying him on the piano.
Most recently, he played in the New Creation band with his two daughters and son-in-law performing in Lewiston and Clarkston.
A life of service described Harry’s involvement with the community.
He held various positions serving others throughout his life: Master of the Lamont Grange, chairman of the St. John School Board and membership in a multitude of other organizations.
He helped to spur construction of the temple in Sprague as a member of Sprague Masonic Lodge, and was a 50-year member of the Masons, lifetime member of Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, and a member of Eastern Star, El Katif Shrine, Whitman County Shrine Club, a contributor to the Masons’ Books for Kids project and a past president of Whitman County Cougar Club, which had a role in establishing plans for WSU’s Beasley Coliseum in the early 1970s.
He was one of the first Washington Barley Commissioners, having been instrumental in founding that group in 1985.
Harry could continually be found donating his time to his local community, first in Sprague and Lamont, then in St. John.
He helped build the Sprague Church using timbers from his homestead in Lamont, and he and Irma were the first couple married in that church.
In St. John, he worked at the cook shack at the St. John Stock Show, helped plant the row of trees on the St. John Golf Course in 1958, helped build community floats for many years, and continually supported local high school sports and music programs as well as his beloved WSU Cougars.
He held season tickets for WSU football and basketball for many years and was a loyal fan traveling to many Cougar events.
His hobbies included: Trap shooting, hunting, fishing, and witching wells.
He also raised and trained hunting dogs, and was a Ham Radio Operator (WA7HWK) for more than 50 years.
He is survived by wife of 67 years Irma (Swift) Davis; children Carol Jeffries (Tom), Kay Andersen (Dan) and Jackson Davis (Mindy); grandchildren Tricia Hilt (Rich), John Jeffries (Shawna), Angie Withers (Ryan), Joel Andersen, Brittnay Davis, Danica Davis and Shelby Davis; great-grandchildren Houston Jeffries, William Jeffries, Jason Withers, and Roxas Castleman.
The viewing hours will be both Thursday and Friday from 9AM ot 4 PM at Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax, WA.
The funeral service will be Saturday, August 8th at 10:30 a.m. at the St. John United Methodist Church.
Vault interment will follow at the Maccabee Cemetery in Sprague, WA.
A family dinner will be held at the Lamont Community Center after the burial.
Donations in his memory may be the El Katif Shriner’s Eastern Washington Transportation Fund, 7217 W. Westbow Blvd., Spokane, Washington 99224.
Online condolences may be sent to www.bruningfuneralhome.com Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax, WA.