Résumé

Employee, Tacoma Millwork Supply Company, Tacoma, WA, 1942. His family owned the firm, which was located at 3001 South Alaska Street in Tacoma in 1942. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 41, accessed 09/12/2020.)

Professional Activities

Member, Pilchuck Glass School, Board of Directors, Pilchuck, WA.

Member, American Craft Council, Board of Directors, New York, NY.

Member, Stewart Title Insurance Company, Board of Directors, Seattle, WA.

Member, Brady International Hardwood, Board of Directors, Renton, WA.

Member, Annie Wright School, Board of Directors, Tacoma, WA.

Member, Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), Board of Directors, Tacoma, WA.

Chairman, Lakewold Gardens, Board of Directors, Lakewood, WA. He helped establish an endowment fund for Lakewold Gardens.

Member, Charles Wright Academy, Board of Directors, Tacoma, WA.

College

B.Arch., University of Washington, Seattle, (UW), Seattle, WA.

Relocation

Born in Tacoma WA, George Leonard Davis, Jr., spent most of his childhood living in the unincorporated town of Parkland, WA, south of Tacoma. His parents divorced when he was young, and he lived with his mother in Parkland, the site of Pacific Lutheran University, where she worked. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Parkland, Pierce, Washington; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0068; FHL microfilm: 2342244, accessed 09/12/2020.)

In 1940, Davis lived with his mother and sister, in Parkland, WA. Their residence was rented, and cost $26 per month. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: Parkland, Pierce, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04356; Page: 61B; Enumeration District: 27-72, accessed 09/12/2020.) At age 18 in 1942, his family coninued to reside in Parkland, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 41, accessed 09/12/2020.)

In his later years, he and Mary made their home in Gig Harbor, WA. They had a house at 4713 24th Street NW in Gig Harbor in 1990. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, accessed 09/12/2020.)

Davis died from a brain tumor in Sun Valley, ID, at the age of 71. The Davis Family had a vacation house in Sun Valley.

Parents

His mother was Esther Ingeburg Jensine Hougen Davis, (born 08/27/1896 in Manitowac, WI-d. 01/26/1979 in Tacoma, WA). She had divorced George L. Davis, Sr., by 1930 (or before), according to the US Census of that year. The 1940 US Census mistakenly labeled Esther a widow. George L. Davis, Sr., her husband, did not die until 1954. Living independently, she worked as an assistant to the business manager and bookeeper at Pacific Lutheran University during the 1930s and 1940s. She may have misinformed the later census worker tthat her status was widowed, which was common for women to say at the time to lessen the stigma of divorce or separation. This would have been especially true for the daughter of a clergyman.

Esther's father, Johan Olai Hougen, (born 03/06/1857 in Kvinnherad, Norway-d. 01/07/1925 in Tacoma, WA), left when he emigrated from Norway as an infant in 1857. He worked as a Lutheran minister in Fargo, ND, (1882-1892), Canton, SD, (1892-1894), Manitowoc, WI, (1894-1898), Decorah, IA, (1898–1907), Tacoma, WA, (1907-1916), Whalan, MN, (1923-1924), and Eugene, OR, (1925–1926). He married twice, the first time in 1882 to Thrine Christine Johnson, (born 04/19/1859 in Clinton County, IA-d. 08/12/1891 in Fargo, ND). His second wife, Anna Elene Stockstad, (born 01/1873 in MN-d. 06/04/1915 in Tacoma, WA), whom Johan wed on 11/29/1892, also died young at age 42. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Archives; Elk Grove Village, Illinois; Congregational Records,, accessed 09/12/2020.) It was through his grandfather that George likely became a Lutheran and remained connected to the church and its institutions, such as Pacific Lutheran University, during his lifetime.

Her husband, George L. Davis, Sr., (d. 08/1954), worked as Manager of the family business, Tacoma Millwork Supply Company until his death. (See Davis Obituary, Tacoma News-Tribune, 08/06/1954.)

The 1940 US Census indicated that Esther had graduated from high school.

His sister was Marian Virginia Davis Johnson, (born c. 1920), who resided in Seattle in 1995.

Spouse

He married Mary Lund, (1922-2008), on 05/28/1950 in Sacramento, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Ancestry.com. California, Marriage Index, 1949-1959 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013, accessed 09/05/2020.) They had met while they both were architecture students at the University of Washington.

Children

He and Mary Lund had two daughters: Gail Davis Stickney, who lived in Sun Valley, ID, in 1995, and Katharine Davis Granum, who resided in Southworth, WA.

Katharine married the sculptor Douglas Charles Granum. Commissioned by George L. Davis, Jr., Granum designed a sculpture for the Pacific Lutheran University Campus, called "The Sisters," dedicated to Agnes Hougen Stuen, (1883-1982), a teacher and wife of PLU Professor Ole J. Stuen (1881-1953) and Esther Hougen Davis, George, Jr.'s mother. Ole Stuen taught in the sciences, coached athletic teams and served as librarian at PLU from 1913 until 1952, and Stuen Hall, a women's residence hall completed in 1966, was named for him.

SSN: 539-14-7690.

Biographical Notes

He was baptized at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA, and was a lifelong Lutheran.

On 06/30/1942, Davis stood 6-feet, 2-inches tall, and weighed 148 pounds. He had a freckled Caucasian complexion with brown eyes and red hair, according to his World War II draft registration card. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 41, accessed 09/12/2020.)

• Tacoma, WA (Architect's Birth)
  Tacoma, WA 98402

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• Sun Valley, ID (Architect's Death)
  Sun Valley, ID 83353

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