Frank Davis was born in The Dalles on September 16,1933 to Catherine Sullivan and Frank D. Davis, the second of four children. He attended St Patrick’s grade school and Central Catholic High School. As a boy he loved to play sports of any kind, even tossing the football to himself if none of his friends were available. An early job was as pin setter at the bowling alley. When he was older, Frank spent summers with his cousins in The Dalles, picking fruit and riding in cars. He enjoyed working on cars and fondly recalled his first, a 1935 Ford.
Upon graduation from high school, he entered the army where his leadership and intelligence first emerged. At Fort Campbell Kentucky he learned to deploy the Bailey bridge, a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. He excelled at managing the bridge and other men, and soon found himself in charge even though one of the lowest ranked men. During this time in the army he married Charlene Eddy who first noticed Frank when he worked at the gas station on SE 39th and Stark. They married at the Sam Davis Hotel in Nashville TN. They returned to Portland not much later and Charlene experienced morning sickness on the cross country drive home due to her pregnancy with their first son. Frank began working full time at Consolidated Freightways and studying full time on the GI Bill at PSU. He graduated with a degree in accounting and four sons, a fifth would join the family 5 years later. He began his career at the Internal Revenue Service upon graduation. Sadly in 1974 Charlene passed away from cancer, leaving Frank with 5 sons from 7 to 17 years old.
Frank later found a second love with Rita Bremseth, who bravely married Frank and became mother to his five boys, adopting them as her own. Their wedding took place at The Madeliene and was the beginning of a 44 year love and adventure ended only by Frank's recent death.
Frank’s spent his career with the Internal Revenue Service as an Audit Manager. He was an early champion for equal rights and helped hire and guide many employees to higher professional levels. In retirement, Frank and Rita enjoyed golf, bowling, salmon fishing, travel and time at their vacation home in Seaview Washington, where they were frequently joined by family and friends.
Frank was loved and admired by those who knew him. He found much joy in everyday life. He regarded most of his meals as the best he ever had and the people he met as the most fun and interesting he'd ever known. He loved family gatherings and was a great story teller. No matter how small a town or how remote a road in Oregon, Frank had a story about it.
Frank was very proud of his sons, whom he taught to be self sufficient, honorable and kind. He treated his daughters-in-law with love and kindness. He welcomed each of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren with joy, bouncing them on his knee, making them laugh with funny noises and holding endless silly conversations. Memories of Grandpa Frank are treasured.
Frank is survived by Rita, his sons and their lovely wives: Steven and Michelle, Mark and Karen, Scott and Arden, Jefferson and Terri, and Ken, his 16 wonderful grandchildren and 8 adorable great grandchildren, and his brother Bill Davis. He was predeceased by his brother Jim Davis and sister Monica Faulkner.
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