Davis, Donald Dwight

Donald Dwight Davis, 95, of Marion, passed away Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, June 10, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends beginning at 9:30 a.m., before the service at the chapel. Burial will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Don was born Nov. 5, 1917, in Pawnee City, Neb., the son of Olin and Rose (Harper) Davis. As a child, the family moved to Cedar Rapids, where he grew up and graduated from McKinley Senior High School. He married Grace Sheldon on July 2, 1938, in Kahoka, Mo., and provided for her and their four children by working as a machinist at area companies, including New Era Industries and Kwik-Way Manufacturing. Don was proud of his work which included tooling equipment with extreme precision, long before computers, lasers and other automated tooling equipment was thought about.

In his retirement years, he enjoyed gardening, woodworking, and spending time with his family and mall walking friends. Don was an active member of the Marion Masons Trojan Lodge 548, proudly wearing his Past Master's ring for over 37 years.

He was a quiet, kind and caring man who could find humor in any situation and for many years used his quick wit and quirky comments to mask his failing memory and other health issues.

A loving husband, father and grandfather, Don will be missed by his surviving family, including children, Janet and Gary Westphal of Kamloops, British Columbia, Deb Davis of Loveland, Colo., and Rick and Kathy Davis of Marion. His grandchildren include Todd and Julie Westphal and Rick and Crista Faw, all of Vancouver, British Columbia, Jeremiah and Trish Davis and Nathan and Alicia Davis of Loveland, Colo., Liz and Joel Harthoorn of Sully, Iowa, Jeff and Nicole Davis and Greg Davis of Columbus, Ohio. Great-grandchildren include Jared and Zoë Faw, Ezekiel Davis and the Harthoorn's twin boys due to arrive in August.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace; his children, Don Davis of Loveland, Colo., and Linda and Gene Flint of Waterloo, Iowa; his parents; and siblings, Quinton (Dale) and Aona Davis and Klio (Sis) and Vern Paul, all of California.

The family would like to thank the staff at Winslow House Care Center for all of the wonderful care, great meals, concern and kindness extended to our father.

Please leave an online condolence for the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.

Published June 8, 2013 in The Gazette