James Earl Davis

Dr. James Earl Davis, DO, died peacefully surrounded by family, May 13, 2023, at the Franciscan Hospice House in University Place. He was 79 years old.

Jim was born in Gratiot County, Michigan, to Duane and Florence (McKnight) Davis. He graduated from Ithaca High School in 1962 and attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he majored in pre-med and English, graduating in 1966. While there he met his future wife Roz Juve and they married in 1968. Jim graduated from the Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery in Missouri in 1970. After completing his residency at the Portland Osteopathic Hospital in Oregon, he and Roz moved to the small community of Clatskanie where he opened a family practice with Dr. Bob McDonald, The Clatskanie Clinic, and raised their three children, Wendy, Erik and Luke. The marriage ended in divorce.

In 1987, Jim married Dorothy Murphy and moved to Rainier, Oregon. He accepted a position with Kaiser Permanente in Longview, Washington as the first dedicated Urgent Care Clinic physician until retiring in 2003.

Jim enjoyed his retirement in Longbranch, captaining his sailboat and traveling. He became involved with The Mustard Seed Project to develop the first assisted living facility on the Key Peninsula.

Dorothy passed away in 2015. In 2016, Jim reconnected with Kathy Crumbaugh, a high school friend, and the two were married in 2021. They enjoyed their time together traveling from Michigan to Washington, Arizona, Oregon and Utah spending time with family and friends.

Jim's philanthropic and civic activities included serving as the president of the Clatskanie School Board, president of the Oregon Osteopathic Association, medical director of the Longview Care Unit, and president, then treasurer of The Mustard Seed Project. Jim was also very involved with the Key Peninsula Lutheran Church and the German Lutheran Cemetery, where he was the acting sexton. His hobbies and interests included hunting, fishing, star gazing, whale watching, sailing, boat building, woodworking, cross-country skiing, gold panning, hiking the canyons of southeastern Utah, and rooting for his Michigan Wolverines.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Duane and Florence Davis; sister Mary Graham; and former wife Dorothy Davis. He is survived by his wife Kathy Davis; brother John G. Davis; daughter Wendy (Jonathan) Cooley; son Erik (Vanessa) Davis; son Lucas Davis; grandsons Jacob and Nathan Davis; stepdaughter Diana Murphy; stepsons Doug and Darin Murphy; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and step-grandchildren.

A memorial is scheduled July 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Key Peninsula Lutheran Church, 4213 Lackey Road NW in Lakebay.

Instead of flowers, donations in memory of Jim may be made to The Mustard Seed Project.