Welcome to the memorial page for
Allan R. Davies
October 5, 1924 ~ May 15, 2017 (age 92) 92 Years OldShare using:
Allan Ray Davies, 92, of Pocatello, Idaho, passed away peacefully in the presence of his family on May 15, 2017. He was born October 5, 1924, in Lincoln, Idaho to Jonathon Ray Davies and Maggie Edna Richards Davies. He married Mary “Betty” Whitaker Davies on December 10, 1968, and she survives him.
Allan is also survived by his siblings, Robert Davies (Barbara), Kay Davies (Juanita), Martha Ann Poole (Raleigh), and Francine George (Ted), his children, Steven Davies (Barbara), Shellie Edwards (Jack), Kevin Davies (Lori), Sherrie Smith, David Whitaker (Melanie), Ed Whitaker, MariLana Buck (Russ), Torrey Whitaker (Nicki), and Tracy Whitaker (Pam), and 33 grandchildren, 59 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren.
Allan is preceded in death by his parents, Jonathon and Maggie, siblings, Don Davies, Helen Fay Bischoff (Jim), Phyllis Marjean Hansen (Norman), and Gerald Davies, and son, Don Whitaker.
He spent much of his childhood on his grandparents’ ranch between Idaho Falls and Ririe, Idaho and living in areas in and around Idaho Falls. He attended Buck Elementary School and later Rigby High School and Idaho Falls High School.
In April 1943, he was drafted into the Army and served as an Army combat engineer in the South Pacific and Japan until he was discharged in February 1946. Allan credited his time in the service as one of the better experiences of his life.
Allan was a hard worker. From a young age, he worked helping his father farm and assisting his mom with the plentiful household chores. His first job, harvesting hay, was while he was still in grade school, and he fondly recalled his first promotion from derrick horse driver to wagon driver. Following his discharge from the Army, Allan was hired by the Union Pacific Railroad where he worked as a carman for 37 years. When he started working for the railroad, he thought the job was too hard and dirty and planned to only work there until he found something better. He joked that thirty years later he was still looking.
Allan’s life was full. He and Betty were members of the Choo Choo Square Dance club for 30 years. They travelled around the state and country dancing with their friends and were known for their perfectly matched dance attire. Even after the club dissolved, they continued to dance up to three times a week until a few weeks preceding his death. Allan also bowled in the Thursday night Pine Bowl bowling league on the team sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza for 50 years where he formed lasting friendships and served as the league secretary for many years.
He and Betty travelled the world together taking countless road trips to Nashville and Mississippi to visit family. After taking his first plane ride in his 80’s, he discovered he loved to travel to warm destinations and took many trips with his daughter, MariLana and son, Torrey to Mexico and Florida as well as a trip to Hawaii thanks to his daughter, Sherrie. Recently, they travelled to New York City, Boston, and Maine with friends. He particularly loved touring New York City and seeing the 9/11 memorial. For the past ten years, he and Betty retreated to Quartz Site, Arizona for the winter months and formed a strong network of friends there who they would reunite with each winter. Allan was always ready to return to Pocatello in the spring, however, as he loved being part of his children and grandchildren’s lives attending games, programs, and welcoming anyone who would come for a delicious bowl of his famous oatmeal. He also looked forward to connecting with their many good friends at the St. Anthony LDS branch each year when they would return to Pocatello. Each summer, Allan and his family would travel to Redfish Lake, Idaho for a weeklong camping trip. Allan and his brothers started this tradition nearly 50 years ago, and he loved to tell stories of camping trips long ago. He will forever be remembered for sporting his “Budweiser” shorts on the Sockeye beach at Redfish.
Al and Betty, as their friends know them, are an example of true love. He once said that the first night he met Betty he discovered she fit perfectly in his arms and remained there for the past 49 years. Anyone in Allan’s circle of family and friends can attest to the fact that he would never say goodbye without telling them he loved them and giving them a tight squeeze and kiss. His legacy of love and acceptance will live on.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Cornelison Funeral Home at 431 N. 15th in Pocatello. A service in celebration of his life will be held on Monday, May 22, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS church located at 650 N. 7th Ave., and the burial will immediately follow at Restlaw Cemetery.
Allan is also survived by his siblings, Robert Davies (Barbara), Kay Davies (Juanita), Martha Ann Poole (Raleigh), and Francine George (Ted), his children, Steven Davies (Barbara), Shellie Edwards (Jack), Kevin Davies (Lori), Sherrie Smith, David Whitaker (Melanie), Ed Whitaker, MariLana Buck (Russ), Torrey Whitaker (Nicki), and Tracy Whitaker (Pam), and 33 grandchildren, 59 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren.
Allan is preceded in death by his parents, Jonathon and Maggie, siblings, Don Davies, Helen Fay Bischoff (Jim), Phyllis Marjean Hansen (Norman), and Gerald Davies, and son, Don Whitaker.
He spent much of his childhood on his grandparents’ ranch between Idaho Falls and Ririe, Idaho and living in areas in and around Idaho Falls. He attended Buck Elementary School and later Rigby High School and Idaho Falls High School.
In April 1943, he was drafted into the Army and served as an Army combat engineer in the South Pacific and Japan until he was discharged in February 1946. Allan credited his time in the service as one of the better experiences of his life.
Allan was a hard worker. From a young age, he worked helping his father farm and assisting his mom with the plentiful household chores. His first job, harvesting hay, was while he was still in grade school, and he fondly recalled his first promotion from derrick horse driver to wagon driver. Following his discharge from the Army, Allan was hired by the Union Pacific Railroad where he worked as a carman for 37 years. When he started working for the railroad, he thought the job was too hard and dirty and planned to only work there until he found something better. He joked that thirty years later he was still looking.
Allan’s life was full. He and Betty were members of the Choo Choo Square Dance club for 30 years. They travelled around the state and country dancing with their friends and were known for their perfectly matched dance attire. Even after the club dissolved, they continued to dance up to three times a week until a few weeks preceding his death. Allan also bowled in the Thursday night Pine Bowl bowling league on the team sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza for 50 years where he formed lasting friendships and served as the league secretary for many years.
He and Betty travelled the world together taking countless road trips to Nashville and Mississippi to visit family. After taking his first plane ride in his 80’s, he discovered he loved to travel to warm destinations and took many trips with his daughter, MariLana and son, Torrey to Mexico and Florida as well as a trip to Hawaii thanks to his daughter, Sherrie. Recently, they travelled to New York City, Boston, and Maine with friends. He particularly loved touring New York City and seeing the 9/11 memorial. For the past ten years, he and Betty retreated to Quartz Site, Arizona for the winter months and formed a strong network of friends there who they would reunite with each winter. Allan was always ready to return to Pocatello in the spring, however, as he loved being part of his children and grandchildren’s lives attending games, programs, and welcoming anyone who would come for a delicious bowl of his famous oatmeal. He also looked forward to connecting with their many good friends at the St. Anthony LDS branch each year when they would return to Pocatello. Each summer, Allan and his family would travel to Redfish Lake, Idaho for a weeklong camping trip. Allan and his brothers started this tradition nearly 50 years ago, and he loved to tell stories of camping trips long ago. He will forever be remembered for sporting his “Budweiser” shorts on the Sockeye beach at Redfish.
Al and Betty, as their friends know them, are an example of true love. He once said that the first night he met Betty he discovered she fit perfectly in his arms and remained there for the past 49 years. Anyone in Allan’s circle of family and friends can attest to the fact that he would never say goodbye without telling them he loved them and giving them a tight squeeze and kiss. His legacy of love and acceptance will live on.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Cornelison Funeral Home at 431 N. 15th in Pocatello. A service in celebration of his life will be held on Monday, May 22, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS church located at 650 N. 7th Ave., and the burial will immediately follow at Restlaw Cemetery.
A service summary is not available
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