| Jerome “Nick” Nicholas Davis June 22, 1945 – Oct. 18, 2021 |
Nick Davis, age 76, passed away from complications of a stroke in Klamath Falls, OR, on October 18, 2021.
Nick was born in Lebanon, Oregon to Arla Nadyne Jenkins and Joseph Marshall Davis. He and his family moved around the Corvallis area as his dad was a logger. Nick started school in the Wildwood School, a one-room schoolhouse, while they were living on the Luckiamute River.
They moved outside Philomath while he was in grade school. He cut timber with his dad after the Columbus Day storm. Nick joined the U.S. Navy in 1964 with his good friends Mick Gast and Mike Thurman. He did two tours of Vietnam (WestPac Cruises) on the troop transport U.S.S. George Clymer, APA-27. His duties included the engine room throttle and the throttleman on the beach landing craft.
Nick started driving a log truck in 1967 and in June 1970 he married Barbara Gumm in Reno, NV. They were married for 20 years and had one son, Nathan. He lived and worked in the timber industry in the Corvallis area until 1973 when he and his family came to Klamath Falls. He continued as a tree feller and driving equipment and log trucks until he bought his own log truck in 1983. He loved driving trucks and just driving in general, trips around the basin on Sunday afternoons. He was involved in the local and state log trucking organizations. He even won the annual log truck driving contest and went to the state contest. He was especially proud of this as he was falling timber and not driving at the time.
In 1990 Nick asked Laurie to do his books when he divorced and she turned him down. She finally said she had time and they started dating that year. Nick and Laurie Ferguson Durst were married on May 16, 1992, at her cousin’s home on the Link River. Nick continued logging and did so until 1999. He held other jobs but went back to driving with his own rock truck. He finally retired in the early 2000s.
Nick and Laurie loved to travel in their refurbished 1974 GMC motorhome. Antiquing trips, old houses, and trips to the coast, Corvallis, and family get-togethers were the destinations. They were into old cars and car shows and toured around Oregon and California pursuing this hobby for many years. Nick loved to work on the old cars and said he would never have a show car or personal car or truck he couldn’t work on.
Laurie got the new cars. Nick enjoyed playing golf and watching it on TV, and NASCAR was also a favorite. Laurie got him to like a little bit of football and baseball. He also enjoyed time with family and going to grandkids’ and nephews’ sports events. Nick enjoyed board games, especially Pictionary. Gin Rummy was his favorite card game. He and his off-beat sense of humor will be greatly missed by friends and family. I love you, sweetie.
Nick is survived by his wife of 29 years, Laurie. His son, Nathan Davis and grandchildren, Cole and Jorja. His stepchildren, Jennifer Oleachea (Garry) and their son, Gavin, and Nicholas Durst (Cathleen) and her son, Ethan. His brother, Tom Davis, sisters- and brothers-in-law, Anne and Gene Yost, and David and Ann Ferguson, numerous nieces and nephews and their children.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Ann Foster.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, October 24, 2021 in Klamath Falls at O’Hair-Wards Funeral Chapel from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. A graveside service will be on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Klamath Memorial Park. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the charity of one’s choice.