CLAUDE LOUIS DAVIS

Valley resident Claude Louis Davis, 86, died Dec. 14, 2005, at Arbor House, in Mesa, Ariz.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Mid Valley Senior Center, Mile 53 Parks Hwy., Houston, at 1 p.m.

Burial will be in the spring at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery.

Mr. Davis was born May 4, 1919, in Chetek, Wis., to Earl and Ethel Davis.

Mr. Davis joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 during World War II, serving in the South Pacific with the Seabees, attaining the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class.

In 1943 Mr. Davis received a medical discharge after contracting &#8220bakers asthma” from working in the bakery.

He married Jane M. Dahlby on Aug. 16, 1941, in St. Paul, Minn. The couple lived in California for a short period, then returned to Minnesota, and finally they moved to Anchorage in 1955.

In the early '70s, the Davises moved to the Valley, living at Big Lake, Houston and Wasilla over the latter years. Mr. Davis was a 50-year resident of Alaska.

Mr. Davis was avidly interested in the automotive field, both mechanical and auto body repair.

He started Alaska Auto Arts in Anchorage in 1956 and worked there until his retirement in 1971.

Mr. Davis also enjoyed flying and loved his Cessna 185 on floats, which was used for hunting, fishing and sightseeing.

In retirement he enjoyed traveling in his 40-foot land yacht both in Alaska and the Lower 48. Mr Davis was a &#8220snowbird,” spending his winters in Hawaii and Arizona.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Lyle and Terri Davis of Wasilla; son, Terry Davis of Houston; sister, Betty Leary of St. Paul, Minn., and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Davis was preceded in death by his wife, Jane, and brothers, Wayne, Norman and Leslie. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people make memorial donations to Hospice of Mat-Su.