Ernest Louis Davis

Ernie “Bud” Davis, age 84, a longtime resident of Astoria, passed peacefully at his home Tuesday evening, Feb. 16, under comforting family and Hospice care. Born Jan. 28, 1931, in the town of Artois, in Northern California, to Ernest Louis Davis Sr., “Lucky Davis,” and Rita Mae (Olsen) Joiner, he was the eldest of five siblings: two sisters who survive him, Christina Marietta (Joiner) VanCura and Ellen Mae (Davis) Sparks of Eugene, Ore.; and two brothers who preceded him, Robert Joseph Joiner of San Bernardino, Calif., and Roy Franklin Joiner of Livermore, Calif.

He married Charlotte Fay (Graves) Davis June 19, 1954, in her home town of Alpine, Ore. They raised two children, Douglas Trent Davis, born April 27, 1962, in Corvallis, Ore., and Kimberly Kay (Davis) Jeremiah, born Nov. 3, 1963, in Salem, Ore. They were married for 25 years. In 1983, he married Karen R. Kenyon of Astoria; they were together for four years. She remained a caring friend to Ernie and continues as close family to his children.

Ernie is survived by his children, Douglas and Kimberly; grandchildren, Cody D. Jeremiah, Andrea K. Jeremiah, Olivia K. Jeremiah, and Meredyth K. Davis; sisters, Christina and Ellen; former spouses Charlotte Tice and Karen Keyon; close and special friend Odny McDonald of Ballard, Wash.; as well as a large extended family.

During the Depression, he learned survival at an early age on the streets in San Francisco. His father worked in the Bay area before heading north to Oregon. Ernie’s parents separated, and he and his sister, Ellen Mae, were raised by their father and stepmother, Edna Louise (Hartwig) Davis. Ernie started grade school at Twin Peaks Elementary in the Bay area in 1936; he attended 32 grade schools before his freshman year of high school.

In 1944, they moved to Oregon Timber Logging camp near Bradwood, Ore. His father, “Lucky Davis,” was mill foreman while his stepmother, Edna Davis, was town postmaster and store manager. Ernie “Bud” attended Westport High School, where he participated in school plays and his two favorite sports, baseball and football; his junior year, they won the 1948 State Championship in football. In 1948 the family moved to Junction City, Ore., Bud remained to finish school. He transferred as a senior to Knappa High School, graduating in the Class of 1949. He took pride living in Bradwood, and enjoyed sharing the memories.

He worked in the woods until 1951 when he enlisted in the Army, and shipped abroad to Alaska joining the 813th Engineer Air Battalion at Fort Richardson, and then the 807th EAB at Eielson, Air Force Base SCARWAF unit; Bud was a heavy equipment operator maintaining infrastructure for the base. In 1954 he was injured and transferred back to the U.S., receiving an honorable discharge from the Army Reserves in 1957. After his transfer in 1954, Bud returned to the woods working as a “high-climber” and equipment operator for Willamette Ind., Hull Lumber Co., and other companies before setting out for college in 1958.

He earned his BSc and MSc degrees in agriculture education from Oregon State College and University respectively. His professional life exemplified his overwhelming commitment to excellence in high school vocational education, introducing and instructing agriculture and forestry programs. Ernie was an instructor at Thurston High School and Pacific High School, and an instructor and vocational program director for Port Orford schools and Amity School District.

He created Oregon’s first high school vocational agriculture and forestry program for the Roseburg School District, and was later hired by the Astoria School District to create a similar program. From 1967 through 1981, Ernie served as the instructor and coordinator of the engineering and forestry programs at Clatsop Community College. Ernie retired from education in 2009, while serving as the instructor and program director for Condon School District’s vocational agriculture program in Central Oregon. He was 78 years old.

In addition to a career educator, he was a licensed land surveyor in Oregon and Washington, and owned and operated a surveying and mapping business. Columbia Surveying and Mapping served Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington for over 25 years.

Throughout life he had a deep appreciation for knowledge and learning, and remained to his end, an avid reader, from human interest to history. Discussion was wide-ranging, often about the past, how it used to be, from logging and living to farming and education. Ernie enjoyed his life as a hunter and fisherman, gun collector, gardener, historian, European traveler, farmer, surveyor, and educator; he was equally passionate about each.

Ernie felt a great responsibility toward his civic contributions, having been involved in and committed to leadership, fraternities, and memberships. His term commitments included Clatsop Community College board member, and scholarship foundation and faculty associate president; Boy Scouts of America, Columbia Pacific Council board member, Fort Clatsop District commissioner and chairman, scoutmaster, and a recipient of scouting’s highest award, the National Court of Honor Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service. In addition he served as president of the Clatsop Small Woodland Owners Association and Society of American Foresters.

Fraternal commitments included Scottish Rite of Freemasonry 32 Degree; Lions Club president; Elks life member; American Legion; Astoria Clowns; and “Yellow Dogs” Vocational Agriculture Teachers fraternity. Memberships were NRA, life member; Oregon Vocational Agricultural Teachers Association; FFA Alumni; OSU Alumni; American Society of Engineering Education; Astoria Golf and Country Club; Regatta Association; Scandinavian Festival Association; and a host of other endeavors.

Ernie was well loved, respected, and appreciated by all who knew him; his many lifelong friendships were of great importance. With wit, wisdom, generosity, and kindness, he was a strong, loving, and devoted father, grandfather, and brother, and missed by all.

A celebration of life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 13, Warrenton Community Center, 170 S.W. Third St.

The family wishes to acknowledge the fine care given by Caring for the Coast; NW Senior and Disabilities; and the caring and competent volunteers and professionals of Lower Columbia Hospice.

The family requests memorial contributions go to the Oregon FFA Foundation, P.O. Box 2042, Salem, OR 97308.

Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary handled the arrangements. Please sign the online guest book at www.caldwellsmortuary.com