Ralph Eugean Davis, 81

Ralph Eugean Davis, 81, of Stockett, a retired mechanic, rancher, bus driver and road-patrol operator, died of natural causes, Monday, May 19, 2008, at a Great Falls nursing home.

Memorial services were held on May 23 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Centerville, with burial of ashes in Sand Coulee Cemetery. Cremation was under the direction of O'Connor Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Beatrice (Mapston) Davis, of Stockett; daughters, Betty and Ed Kunkel of Stockett, and Linda and James Kapp of Stockett; sons, Ronald and Sherilu Davis of Stockett, and Allen and Zoe Davis of Billings; sisters, Mary Heynie of Libby, and Alice Needles of Missoula; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Ida Davis; siblings, Lulu Sager, George Davis, Walt Davis, Violet Koehler, Frank Davis, Inez Mefford, Raymond "Sunny" Davis, Esther Robbe and Lenore Larson; and one grandchild, Talina Davis.

Ralph was born to George and Ida Davis on Nov. 13, 1926, in Polson. He was raised in Polson and graduated from Polson High School in 1945.

He married Beatrice Mapston on June 3, 1950, at the Stockett Catholic Church.

Ralph started driving a school bus his senior year for his brother Walt. In 1960, he and Bea purchased and operated their own school-bus route for Centerville Schools through 1975.

Ralph started his mechanic career in 1950, working for Haas and Associates, a farm-implement business, and in 1960 he and Bea also started ranching. He was a mechanic his whole life and could fix anything from a coffee pot to a diesel. Two years ago, he assisted his son Ron and grandson Reese to repair a rear-end on a pickup.

Ralph was a school board member at Centerville Schools, and belonged to the Masons, Elks, and Moose, and the Foothills Livestock Association.

He enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing and family activities.

Memorials are suggested to Centerville Senior Citizens, the Alzheimer's Foundation or to the donor's choice.