good picture of Brad

                                   This is a picture of Dallas, Colby and Brad--about 2001. 

Pictures: Francis and Deniece

haircuts!

Dad (Ivan Davis) was a 'Jack of all trades, and Master of none'. A welder by necessity: if equipment breaks down it has to be welded together before the work can be finished. He taught himself to weld. Years later, Aaron, a grandson-in-law wanted to learn to weld. Everybody told him Dad could teach him and he did. Val, son-in-law, came out to watch Aaron's progress. "Why are you shaking the rod?" (This is the part that heats the metal till it is red hot and melts the metal stick (held in the Left hand) onto the break). Aaron: 'this is the way G'pa does it'. (Well only if you have old-age shakes)

We also depended on Dad for haircuts. The son-in-laws, and then the grandsons too. But one day dad nicked his g.son Davis' ear. Dad felt so bad. He handed the barber shears to Lynne. "You girls have got to learn to cut your kids hair". He watched us, taught us and supported us. I think I am the only one still in the barber business. Francis and Brad still have hair. That's good. I have seen my daughter, Suzette, cut her grandsons hair many times, so maybe the tradition will still live on.

moving to Iowa

by Mom/Deniece:

We made our move from Pocatello, Idaho in 1977. The following spring Mom and Dad Davis came to Iowa to visit us in our new home. Dad went right to work on our HUGE 2 acre lot. We went to town to look for a place we could rent a tiller so he could mulch up the ground for a garden, and Dad started tilling the earth. Its a farmer thing, in his blood. Besides we had a wonderful garden in Pocatello we left behind, and a home wasn't a home without a garden. When the work was all done. He was ready to go home. Couldn't just disappear after the hugs, as he always did in Idaho. I will remember forever his parting words. "Its a good place, good soil, you can be happy here." And for 35 years, we have been.