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Chester Raymond Davis, 95

Chester “Chet” Davis, of Hayden, passed away Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, after a short stay at the Schneidmiller Hospice House.

Chet was born April 21, 1924, to Wilbur and Dolly Davis, in Stockton, Calif. He grew up on his parents’ farm and graduated from Stockton High School. While at Stockton High, Chet served as president of the school’s National FFA Organization chapter.

Entering the military after high school, Chet qualified for flight training. As a pilot, Chet flew the B-17 Flying Fortress with the 94th Bomb Group, 410 Bomb Squadron, in the Eighth Air Force, stationed at Bury St. Edmunds. He is credited with five combat missions and earned the Air Medal.

After the war, Chet stayed in the Air Force and spent a significant amount of time in Europe with his first wife, Laverna. Retiring from the Air Force in 1967 with the rank of Lt. Colonel, Chet and Laverna found North Idaho and purchased 40 acres along Highway 95, where they built a home on Orchard Ave. and, for a time, maintained some cattle.

Chet enjoyed traveling, hunting and working on various projects on and around his property. Chet developed a portion of his property, including the residential lots on Davis Circle in Hayden and the commercial lots on Hess Street. Chet served the community in a number of capacities, including as a member of the Hayden City Council, from 1978 to 1988, and on various boards.

Just before their 50th anniversary, Laverna passed in 1994. Chet married Merelda Sherwood, who passed in 1997. He married Georgia Staughton in 1998, and he and Georgia traveled often in their motorhome, with Georgia doing much of the driving. In fact, Chet paid for Georgia to learn to drive a semitruck for her 75th birthday. Georgia passed in 2017.

Chet was also generous to a number of charities in the area, and especially enjoyed his volunteer work and contributions to North Idaho College and to the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Spokane. He was a Shriner and a member of the Military Officers Association.

Chet is survived by his brother, Gordon Davis of Wilton, Calif.; his sister, Lorraine (Al) Hoslett of Stockton, Calif.; and nieces and nephews, Leo Beuning of Rathdrum and Susan Sankey of Hayden.

Memorial service for Chester Raymond Davis will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave. Friends and family may gather one hour prior to the services at the chapel. Interment will be at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are provided by Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel. On-line registry and condolences may be found at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

Chet’s family and friends would like to give a special thank you to the caregivers at Home Instead and the staff of Hospice of North Idaho for their excellent and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of North Idaho or to the North Idaho College Foundation.