Joyce Davis

On Sunday, May 4, 2014, Joyce Davis of Waitsburg went to her heavenly home.

George and Mary Haughton welcomed her into this world on Oct. 18, 1932, in Sandpoint, Idaho. She moved with the family from Sandpoint to Troy, Idaho and then on to Lewiston, Idaho. Joyce graduated from Lewiston High School in 1949. She began her working career as a telephone operator in Lewiston and eventually moved to Dayton with the telephone company. In 1965, Joyce married William Davis and moved to Waitsburg, where she resided until her death.

Joyce is survived by her and her husband’s seven children, Douglas (Janet) Davis of Spokane, Greg (Vicki) Davis of Dayton, Carmen (Scott) Spencer of Creswell, Ore., Jeff Peterson of Scottsdale, Ariz., Scott Peterson of Yakima, Barbara Brown (Mark) of College Place, and William Davis Jr. (Lori) of Waitsburg; and a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her sister, Gertrude Newman of Woodburn, Ore. Her husband of 47 years, William Davis Sr., preceded her in death as did her parents, George and Mary Haughton; her brother, Kenneth Haughton; and sister, Tressa Speight.

Joyce and her husband owned various businesses in Dayton before retiring to their ranch in Waitsburg. Their employees were like family and many former employees would stop in to say hello for years after they no longer worked for the couple. Joyce was also a talented artist and loved crafting beautiful things to have in her home and give to others. In her life, she’d worked with many different mediums including oil, watercolor, charcoal, pottery, paper mâché, woodcarving and her latest passion: rug hooking.

Most recently, Joyce enjoyed golfing at the Dayton golf course, playing cards, and an occasional outing’s with her dear friends, “The Fearsome Foursome” at Taco Night at the Tuxedo in Prescott. Joyce was determined to spend her last days enjoying the tranquility of her home, which she affectionately referred to as “her resort” and where she enjoyed a glorious spring day before passing away.

A viewing and visitation will be held at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla on Friday, May 9, 2014, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2014, at the Waitsburg Cemetery. Immediately following the service will be a gathering and celebration of life at the Ye Old Towne Hall on 121 Main Street in Waitsburg. Memorial donations may be sent to the Dayton Golf Course in support of the Jr. Golf program.