Donald Davis

Donald Lee Davis, age 87, of Washington, Iowa, formerly of rural Columbus Junction, passed away Wednesday, January 20, 2015 at the M.L. McCreedy Home in Washington after being in poor health for several years. Celebration of life services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Salem Welsh Presbyterian Church in rural Columbus City, with Pastor Dottie Halverson officiating. General calling hours will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Friday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington. The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning at the Salem Welsh Presbyterian Church. Interment will be held at Cambrian Cemetery in rural Columbus Junction, Iowa. Memorials have been established for Salem Welsh Presbyterian Church, Cambrian Cemetery and Hospice of Washington County. Online condolences may be sent for Don’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com. Donald Lee Davis was born May 6, 1928 in rural Columbus Junction, Iowa, the son of Hugh Rees and Claudia (Evans) Davis. He graduated from Wyman High School and attended Central College in Pella, Iowa. Don was united in marriage to Alice B. Reschly on August 15, 1976 in the Davis home, where Donald was born. They resided there until 1994, when he and Alice moved to their home in Washington, Iowa. Donald attended grade school through high school in the Wyman Consolidated School. He graduated in 1945 as valedictorian of his class and went on to attend Central College in Pella, Iowa for a year. He then returned to work with his dad on the family livestock and grain farm. He was a lifetime member of the Salem Welsh Presbyterian Church, where he served many years as Trustee and Elder and provided general rebuilding and repair work for the church as long as his health allowed. Donald was very loyal to his school, serving on the alumni committee a number of times before the annual school reunions were discontinued in 2010. He enjoyed recalling and sharing many comical experiences and enjoyed athletics, having played high school basketball and baseball. Donald also enjoyed being a part of the “fox hunters” who were an active organized group of men in the community who hunted together on Saturdays during the winter months. At the end of the season they had a soup supper supported by money they received from selling the fox pelts. He and Alice spent many hours helping those in need and were apologetic to the end for not being able to do more. Don never missed a Rees family reunion and always showed an interest in, and asked about the welfare of others, especially in the Davis, Rees and Reschly families, and of his many friends. Don is survived by his sisters-in-law, Susan Gilmere, Helen Reschly and Sonja Reschly; cousin, Mary Baker and husband Dean; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; brothers-in-law, Harold Gilmere , James, Donald and Robert Reschly; and cousins, Hugh Carrol Davis, Miriam Davis, Mildred Davis and Norma Whitham.

Donald Davis

May 6, 1928 - January 20, 2016