Michael E. Davis

Michael Elmer Davis
08/22/1948 – 01/31/2019

Michael Davis died Thursday, January 31, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Michael was born August 22, 1948 in Allegan, Michigan, to Marianne (Michael) Davis and Arvin Matthew Davis.

He was one of six children and the eldest boy. Michael graduated from St. Philip Catholic High School in 1966. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, who served with the Air Defense Command in Oregon and California. After marrying Betty Jean King in Oregon, Michael and Betty moved to the Almaden Air Force Station in California, located in Santa Clara County. Michael worked at the Mount Umunhum Radar Tower, established as an early warning radar base to protect northern California's airspace during the Cold War. He soon became a father to his only daughter, Mundee Karlene (Davis), and they made their way to the Great Lakes Region following his time in the Air Force. He attended a private college in Hillsdale, Michigan for about a year, worked at Hillsdale Hospital and moved on to manage restaurants in Chicagoland as well as Madison, Wisconsin. His career path was no surprise – Michael loved to eat! In fact, he recently told a grocery clerk he was happiest when he was eating. He could cook like nobody's business, and no one made Eggs Benedict like Michael! He enjoyed Guinness and loved a good cigar. His opinions were strong, his mind raced, his wit was quick and dry. He loved to argue for the sake arguing, yet he was slow to anger, and his heart was huge - so much larger than he mostly led on. He paid close attention, even from a distance. He was an amateur photographer, an avid reader of any genre, and he truly loved music. Michael wrote poetry for enjoyment which may have been sparked by his creative writing pursuits at Hillsdale College.

He moved back to Michigan to be closer to his mom and worked as a dispatcher for Airborne Express in Battle Creek. Following retirement, he moved to the Pacific Northwest to be with his daughter and her family.

Michael is preceded in death by both parents, Marianne and Arvin, and his nephew Gerald Lee Boshers, Jr.

Michael is survived by his daughter Mundee; grandsons Donte and Devan; and great granddaughter Kaydin; his older sister Arvina; three younger brothers, Jeff, Scott and Matt; his younger sister, Alicia, and many nieces and nephews.

Michael's body was donated to science as he wished. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 8, 2019 at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, starting at 12:00 p.m. Interment with full military honors will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.