Richard "Dick" LaVern Davis

Richard “Dick” LaVern Davis, son of Claude Davis and Pearl Edens Cassingham, stepson of Thomas Cassingham, brother to Lula, Edna, Henry, Charles, Ruby, and Roy, was born in Copan, Oklahoma, and peacefully left this world at the age of 92 at his home in Vancouver, Washington.

From June 1945 to July 1952 Dick worked part-time on a 1,000-acre farm, in Scott City, Kansas, planting, cultivating, and harvesting wheat, maize and cane. He used a tractor to pull plows, cultivators, discs, and harrows. He also made repairs to the farm machinery and farm buildings and fences.

He attended Scott Community High School in Scott City where he was the Sophomore Class President, graduating May 4, 1952. He enjoyed singing and excelled in track, earning several medals in the 880-yard run. Outside of school he enjoyed rolling skating and hunting small game.

Dick joined the U. S. Navy August 1,1952 and served until July 31, 1956, during the Korean War. He continued in the Naval Reserve until July 31, 1960. During the time he served he was assigned to the Aircraft Carrier, U.S.S. Oriskany (the Mighty O). While in the Navy he was awarded both the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Service Medal.

While stationed in Alameda, California he met his first wife, Susan Cutler. They were married on September 1, 1957, in Oakland, CA and then moved to Oregon where they attended Linfield College from 1957 to 1959. While there he played football and was the President of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. They were married for 19 years and blessed with two sons.

He was a very involved father to his boys, coaching their baseball teams from 1967 to 1978. He was the Mt. Sylvania Little League Commissioner, a Scout Leader for 10+ years, and the Booster Club President for Andrew Jackson High School from 1977-1979. They were also members of Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Dick was a big outdoor enthusiast and was an avid hunter spending several years hunting deer and elk in the Wallowa’s with his oldest son and close friends. He was the camp cook for the hunters and was known as “Cooky”. He also spent many summers camping with his family, fishing, water skiing, golfing, and playing tennis.

Dick worked with several different companies while living in Portland. Among those were the Battery Supply Company, Hyster Corporation as a buyer, Head of Purchasing at Wagner Mining Equipment, and retiring as Director of Purchasing at Longview Fiber in 1988. While working he also served as President of the Purchasing Association of Oregon.

Dick was introduced to Shirley Wentz at a Danish Luncheon hosted by their mutual friends, Fred and Elly. It didn’t take them long to tie the knot. They married April 9,1983 in Portland. They lived in SW Portland on Marigold Street then moved to Mountain Park in Lake Oswego. They were members of the Mountain Park Tennis Club and enjoyed playing cards with close friends.

He and Shirley were huge supporters of their grandchildren by attending countless softball, baseball and football games, soccer matches, school choir concerts and many other events. They also treated each of their grandchildren to high school graduation trips.

In 2002 Dick and Shirley moved to Mesa Arizona where they lived in Val Vista Village, then moving to Canyon Winds Retirement Center, before moving back to the Northwest in 2023 to live at Cogir at the Quarry in Vancouver, WA. Dick was a very outgoing and engaging man who made friends everywhere he went. While at Val Vista Village he was the Ranger who made his rounds in his golf cart each day greeting and helping his neighbors. He enjoyed playing tennis, shooting pool, playing cards with neighbor friends and having folks over for happy hours on the patio. He also joined the welcome committee at Canyon Winds as well as being the chauffeur to neighbors in need of rides to appointments. Upon returning to the Northwest he continued with the welcome committee at The Quarry. He had a big heart and loved to spread joy with his humor.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Shirley, his parents and all six of his siblings. He is survived by his sons, Derek Preston (Susan) and Dirk Thomas (Wendy), along with his four grandchildren, Rachel, Megan (Rhys), Preston, and Tabitha (Brady), and great-grandson Callum.

A Military Interment Service will be held at Willamette National Cemetery on April 17, 2026, at 10:00am with a Celebration of Life to follow at Lakeside Gardens.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at dignitymemorial.com