Harry Davis, lifelong farmer of the Sunset, Lamont and St. John areas, known for his musical talent and dedicated service as a Mason and Shriner, passed away peacefully on the morning of Aug. 1, 2015, due to cancer. He was 90.

Harry was an unforgettable man who seemed to relate to every generation with his warmth and kindness.

The death of his father when Harry was 15 left him the family farm and a career that lasted almost three-quarters of a century, to harvests as recently as last summer. He graduated from Lamont High School in 1943 and attended Eastern Washington University. He and Irma Swift were married on May 8, 1948.

As a young man, he was a member of "M2K's and D," a band that played all over the county at Grange dances and was featured from 1950-59 at Sprague Lake, a hub of social activity then. His love of playing music continued throughout his life. He played his tenor saxophone for several El Katif Shrine groups, including the concert band, German band and Dixieland band, which performed in parades, nursing homes and retirement homes in the Spokane area, and also competed elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Harry also performed on many occasions with his daughter, Carol, accompanying him on the piano. Most recently, he played in the New Creation band with his two daughters and son-in-law performing in Lewiston and Clarkston.

A life of service described Harry's involvement with the community. He held various positions serving others throughout his life: master of the Lamont Grange, chairman of the St. John School Board and membership in a multitude of other organizations. He helped to spur construction of the temple in Sprague as a member of Sprague Masonic Lodge, and was a 50-year member of the Masons, lifetime member of Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, and a member of Eastern Star, El Katif Shrine, Whitman County Shrine Club, a contributor to the Masons' Books for Kids project and a past president of Whitman County Cougar Club, which had a role in establishing plans for Washington State University's Beasley Coliseum in the early 1970s. He was one of the first Washington barley commissioners, having been instrumental in founding that group in 1985.

Harry could continually be found donating his time to his local community, first in Sprague and Lamont, then in St. John. He helped build the Sprague Church, using timbers from his homestead in Lamont, and he and Irma were the first couple married in that church. In St. John, he worked at the cook shack at the St. John stock show, helped plant the row of trees on the St. John golf course in 1958, helped build community floats for many years, and continually supported local high school sports and music programs as well as his beloved WSU Cougars. He held season tickets for WSU football and basketball for many years and was a loyal fan, traveling to many Cougar events.

His hobbies included trap shooting, hunting, fishing and witching wells. He also raised and trained hunting dogs, and was a ham radio operator (WA7HWK) for more than 50 years.

Survivors names omitted per findagrave policy.

Lewiston Tribune August 4, 2015

To Those I Love and Those Who Loved Me:

When I am gone,release me,let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears.
Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love. You can only guess
how much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
but now it's time I traveled on alone.

So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It's only for a while that we must part,
so bless the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away,for life goes on.
So if you need me,call and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me,I'll be near,
And if you listen with your heart,
you'll hear all of my love around you soft and clear.

And then when you must come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and...
"Welcome Home"

All my Love,
Dad