Griffith Thomas Davis

Griffith ‘GT’ Davis
Gone Fishing – Griffith Thomas Davis, age 65, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away on March 17, 2005 of esophageal cancer.

He was born January 10, 1940 to Joseph A and Lenna Thomas Davis in Malad City. He married his high school sweetheart, LaRetta Williams, May 27, 1960.

When he was 11-years-old his Grandpa Dave Thomas took him to his Uncle Stan’s Grocery Store and told Stan that “this boy needed a job”. From then until his retirement in 1997 he was a hard and dependable worker to have around.

He attended Malad High School, graduating in 1958. He left his uncle’s store and went to work for the State of Idaho. When he and LaRetta got married he quit the state and returned to Uncle Stan’s Store. He went to work for Thiokol in Brigham City, Utah, working there for five years. When he was layed (sic) off from Thiokol he went to Pocatello and worked for Davey Tree Experts until he was hired by FMC. He worked there about three months and was hired by Monsanto in Soda Springs. After nine years with Monsanto he left and went to Alaska.

In Alaska he worked for Associated Green Company on the Alaska Pipeline. After four years working there he returned home to Soda Springs and went to work for Mark III, Washington Construction and finally for Dravo Mining of Soda Springs where he retired from the Operating Engineers Local 370 in 1997. During his work for Monsanto, he was also bartender for the Cedar View Supper Club, Stockmans Lounge and the Santo Club, all in Soda Springs. He was a member of the Soda Springs Masonic Lodge #84.

Upon completing high school he embarked on a life long journey of learning. While working at Thiokol he learned to weld. The guys he worked with said, “There were only two things he couldn’t weld – the crack of dawn and a broken heart.” He also learned to be a heavy duty mechanic at Thiokol which became his primary occupation until his retirement. He loved to learn and whenever a new subject caught his fancy he would learn all he could about it.

Throughout his life his family came first, but coming a close second was his love for the outdoors. A day when he could combine the two was the next best thing to heave (sic) to him. He was an avid fisherman and would fish any chance he could. As his sons got old enough to go with him he always took them. He took Janis with him also, but all she wanted from him was a horse. He would always answer her that he wasn’t a cowboy. His other relaxation activity was tying flies. He always tied his own flies, and he invented two flies of his own named the “Beady Eyed Redneck” and the “Blue Collar Worker.”

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, LRetta, Soda Springs; three sons: Griff W. (Sonia), Soda Springs, Joe D. (Nancy), Magna, Utah, Chris C. (Misty), Soda Springs; and his daughter, Janis (Dean) Osburn. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; three brothers: Dean (Jerry) Davis, Bountiful, Utah, Fred Davis, Sierra Vista, Arizona, Jim (Blenda) Davis, Boise; and two sisters: Isabel (Dick) Zundel, Soda Springs and Ann (Lynn) Schenk, Burley, Idaho.

He is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Don Davis; four sisters: Joann McMarve, Janis Capener, Janet Knott, Helen McNabb; and one great-grandchild, Wyatt Morgan.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, March 26 at noon in the Soda Springs LDS Stake Center, 290 South 3rd West. Friends may call on Friday evening at the Sims Funeral Home, 139 East 2nd South, from 7 – 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday at the Stake Center from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. prior to services. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery in Soda Springs.