Stanley Leon Davis Jr

Stanley Leon Davis Jr., 89, of Longview passed away Sept. 30, 2022.

He was born April 20, 1933, in Yakima, Washington, to Stanley Leon Davis Sr. and Mabel Viola (Reed) Davis. He was called "Buddy" by his family when he was growing up, and his older brother Harold Glen was "Buster". He had two younger sisters, Geraldine Ardis "Jeri" and Shirley Virginia. The family moved often for work, and lived in Yakima and Everett, Wash., and Seward, Homer, Anchorage, and Fairbanks, Alaska. He graduated from Northwest Christian High School in Spokane, Wash. in 1951. He worked for his father at Davis Plumbing in Fairbanks, Alaska, before joining the Air Force and being stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. He was a member of the 9th Air Refueling Squadron and earned the rank of 1st Lieutenant between 1954 and 1958. He flew in a B-36 Bomber as a navigator. After leaving the service, we served in the Air Force Reserves for 3 years.

Stan earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington in 1962, and went on to earn a master of science in mechanical engineering from UW in 1964. He later received professional engineering licenses in both Oregon and Washington. He worked as a mechanical project engineer in the pulp and paper industry, at Crown Zellerbach in Port Angeles, Wash., Ketchikan Pulp & Paper in Ketchikan, Alaska, and Boise Cascade in Salem, Oregon. Stan retired from NORPAC in Longview in 1998.

He was a member of Gideons International, Early Bird Lions, and Toastmasters. Stan was a long-distance runner, participating in four marathons. He enjoyed RV travel and camping, Bible study, and photography. He was mild-mannered, thoughtful, dependable, consistent, hard-working, and a problem solver.

He met Carol Lee Blair in Kotzebue, Alaska in the summer of 1961 through mutual friends. He kept Carol's address and later that year as he was addressing Christmas cards, he had one card left and thought of the girl he had met, and decided to mail it to her. That card started a letter writing courtship, resulting in their marriage on Sept. 16, 1962, in Carol's home town of Marion, Ohio. They made their home in Seattle, Wash. where Stan was starting his master's program. While in Seattle their son Mark Allen was born in 1963. After moving to Port Angeles, Rebecca Sue in was born in 1964 and Brenda Mae in 1967.

After retirement, Stan and Carol enjoyed taking trips in their RV, often taking along their grandchildren. They also went on many adventures with their friends "The Duffers",

Howard & Kay, Phil & Pat, and Jay & Irene.

Stan was a committed Christian, and a member of Calvary Community Church in Longview for the past 29 years. He faithfully read the Bible every morning. He raised his children and his grandchildren to love and follow God. His favorite verse was Psalm 119:114 "Thou are my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy word."

He is survived by his loving and faithful wife, Carol, at home. Also surviving are a sister, Shirley (Harold) Hirtzel Pinkerton of Onalaska, Wash.; a son, Mark Davis of Federal Way, Wash.; two daughters, Becky Baumgardner of Kelso and Brenda Marsden of Longview; a brother-in-law, Jim White of Norman, Okla.; two sisters-in-law, Arlene (Floyd) Hoffman of Bourbonnais, Ill., and Shirley Whitman of Kissamee, Fla.; four grandchildren, Austin Marsden and Blair Marsden, both of Longview, and Ella Baumgardner and Hannah Baumgardner, both of Kelso; nephews Rodney (Kellie) White, Jim (Ari) Hirtzel, Jeff (Liese Cornwell) Schuyler, Chad (Melissa) Hoffman, Chris (Stephanie) Hoffman, and nieces Teri (Ron) Mezek, Lisa Hirtzel, Valerie McCall, and Kari (Jeremy) Alderson, as well as many great nieces and nephews. Stan and Carol also supported a child at Ban San Faan Children's Home in Thailand for many years, and consider Chanakan "Hope" Phandan to be their adopted granddaughter.

Stan was preceded in death by a sister, Jeri White; two brothers-in-law, Jim Hirtzel and Dale Whitman; son-in-law, John Marsden, nephews Jimmy White and Brad Schuyler, niece Sherolyn Milles, and great-nephew Cameron Mezek.

A memorial service with military honors is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at Calvary Community Church, 2655 28th Ave., in Longview. Pastor Eugene Curry will officiate.

Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800.