Joseph Lee Davis

Joseph Lee (Joe) Davis, born on April 13, 1924 in Denver Colorado, passed away peacefully at home on July 10, 2018. He was a young at heart 94 year old who was grateful for every day of life. After illness forced Joe to retire at the age of 83, he enjoyed the country life living with one of his daughters, Karen and her husband Larry Dillon in Peralta, NM.  Often he would say he is living the life of a country gentleman.  He would spend his days watching the political news on TV, taking walks, and discussing philosophy with his son-in-law. He was also a voracious reader with his favorite subjects being history, cosmology, anatomy, psychology, and of course the scriptures.

Before retirement Joe was a Steinway Trained Piano Technician.  He was self-employed and the head piano technician at Reidling Music Co. in Albuquerque, NM. During his career of 63 years, he serviced not only the pianos in Albuquerque, but throughout the state of New Mexico and southern Colorado. One of his greatest joys was servicing the pianos at Popejoy Hall on the UNM campus during the concerts of great classical and popular musicians such as, Van Cliburn, Victor Borge, and Arthur Rubinstein.  However of all the great pianist Joe worked with, he was most impressed by the kindness Neil Diamond showed him.

Being a recruit fresh off the farm in Missouri, Joe was always proud to have served in the US Navy during WWII.  He was stationed on Guam as an electrician's mate where he and his shipmates were assigned to patch up the boats damaged by Kamikazes attacks.  He said they just had to fix them up enough to be able to get back to Pearl Harbor.

After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he decided not to go back to the farm in Missouri. He knew he would miss his Aunt Lucy (Lucy Hampton), but felt he was not a very good farm hand.  His father, Roland Davis, offered to teach him the piano business if he would come to Albuquerque.

So he and his younger brother Ralph went to Albuquerque, while there he met a beautiful raven haired girl named Alice Clarita Mergen.  In May 1952 Alice Clarita Mergen became Alice Clarita Davis.  The following year Denise was born and four years later came Karen. Joe worked hard to provide for his family despite having to overcome rheumatoid arthritis, and other illnesses. He was devoted to his family and as the years went on, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joe is survived by his daughters, Karen Dillon (Larry) of Peralta, New Mexico, and Denise King (Warren); grandchildren, Steven King (Rhemy) of Maple Valley, Washington, Terra Whitehead (Jesse) of Albuquerque, NM, Marla Monk (Greg Monk, Lt Commander); great-grandchildren,  Luke Whitehead, Jaina Whitehead, Iella Whitehead, Marcie Monk, and Marissa Monk, as well as extended family in San Diego, California; and his beloved cat, Shadow.  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Alice Clarita in January 2000; his only brother, Ralph in February 2018; and his youngest great-grandson, Dashiell Bruce King August 2016.