Paul Stanley Davis was born on July 22, 1952, to goodly parents, Dwayne Albert Davis and Mildred Donna Mitton Davis. He was the third boy born into a family that would eventually include two older brothers, Roy and Mark; and two younger sisters, Sherry and Julie. He was the quintessential middle child. Paul grew up hunting, camping and fishing with his family as well as his large extended Davis family. He was raised as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission in the Colorado/New Mexico Mission from 1971-1973. After returning home he married his high school sweetheart, Jolene LaVoi Smith, in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church on November 1, 1973. It was a marriage made in heaven and made for eternity. To this union were born four children: Sarah, Jeff, Jason and Heidi. Paul was an avid outdoorsman in every sense. He spent his youth helping on his grandfather's farm. Though he was tall and lanky, he really knew how to buck hay. During his teenage years he played church basketball and his team went to the All-Church Basketball tournament in Salt Lake for many years in succession. He graduated from Pocatello High School in 1971 and later attended Idaho State University for 2 years and earned a certification in machine technology. He worked most of his life outside, initially on the line clearing operation for Idaho Power and later as a permitter, contacting property owners regarding their hazard trees. He had both his National and International Arborist Certifications. He was an accomplished tree surgeon and in the year 2000, at the age of 48, he attended the Northwest Utility Arborist competition in Boise and won 3 of the 5 events while the school children looking on gleefully yelled and pointed, "Look at that grandpa swinging way up in that tree!" If he was inside, it was to get ready to do something outside. He loved to hunt, fish and go camping with his family and friends. He also inherited his mother's love of gardening and grew large vegetable and flower gardens, which included roses and hybrid iris. One of his favorite things to do was to grow enough pumpkins to give one away to any child in his ward or neighborhood who needed one for Halloween. One year he grew 5 pumpkins that all weighed over 125 pounds each! He only did that once because what he discovered was once you grow them, then you have to do something with them. In 2015 he grew and gave away 500 pumpkins. He served in many church positions including ward clerk, Elders Quorum secretary, Cubmaster, primary teacher, stake athletic director, priest quorum advisor, YSA stake shepherding couple with his wife, bishopric counselor of the YSA ward, ward missionary, and stake singles shepherding couple. Paul was not a man of many words. He was shy, maybe a little anxious, in public situations and was content or preferred to sit on the back row at church, however, he was one of the first to be there in times of need. He worked hard and served others in a truly Christlike manner. Paul also had the most wonderful sense of humor. He was a prankster and loved pulling one over on loved ones and family members. He inherited his father's wit, and you knew that he was planning some kind of trouble because of the gleam in his eye and his raised eyebrow. His mother almost always ended up in the lake or river during family camping trips, with Paul loudly proclaiming that he was "just trying to keep her from falling in." Later, he used to sneak behind the couch while his children and their friends were watching scary movies and slowly tickle his fingers over the back of their necks or arms and then watch them react. He was more than willing to dress up in silly costumes to make his children and grandchildren laugh. His wife and his family were the focus of his life. He brought his wife flowers for anniversaries and birthdays, and a flannel nightgown every Christmas. He wanted to be first to hold the new grandchildren and might have gloated just a little about it. The last years of Paul's life were difficult due to his physical ailments. His family would like to give thanks to all the friends and health workers who helped care for him during his last years, in particular the brethren of the 34th Ward, The Cottages Assisted Care and Doctors Hospice. Paul passed away on Friday, November 27, 2020. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Dwayne and Mildred Davis; one grandchild; and sister-in-law Linda Davis. He is survived by his wife, Jolene; his four children: Sarah (Eric) Ferrin of Springville, Utah; Jeff (Sara) Davis of Nampa, Jason (Amalie) Davis of Gooding, Idaho, and Heidi (Justin) Johnson of Nampa; and his siblings: Roy (LaNae) Davis, Mark (Cherie Mansfield) Davis, Sherry (Steve) Tanner, and Julie (Hans) Hayden. He was the proud grandfather of 21 grandchildren: Braden (Sharley), Emma, Adam, Jon, Grant, Paige, Lauren, Susann, Alan, Kevin, Hazel, George, Gardner, Jolie, Addie, Clayton, Leah, Abby, Daphne, Thad, and Phoebe. We miss him so much but are grateful that he is now free to laugh and run, and perhaps even push his Mom into a heavenly river. Due to Covid concerns at this time, a graveside service will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at 1:00 at the Firth Idaho Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date after Covid concerns subside. "In lieu of flowers, go get your favorite kind of pie and eat it in memory of Paul," or contribute to the Light the World initiative at https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world-2020/give
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