Joel Irwin Davis was born on October 23, 1934 in Tacoma,

Washington to John and Edna Davis. Joel was the youngest

of four children. His youthful years were spent in Waterman

near Port Orchard, Washington where he became facinated

by the sea. With the Puget Sound as his backyard, he would

spend countless hours investigating the beaches for both

sea life and treasures washed ashore by the enormous Na-

val ships that would pass by. He loved to motor around the

Puget Sound in his Youngbuilt boat, sometimes going great

distances with no trouble navigating his way home. He also

enjoyed music. He played both the trombone and the piano

and would eventually play in a small band in high school.

Joel graduated from St Martins High School in Olympia in

1953 and continued on to college at St Martin’s with a ma-

jor in accounting. In 1954 he joined the Coast Guard and was

stationed in Port Angeles. On March 24, 1956 he married his

sweetheart, Sharon Rietdorf, at St Michaels in Olympia.

Joel and Sharon then settled in Olympia and had two chil-

dren, Brad (1961) and Pam (1964). Joel worked for Moore Busi-

ness Forms and later the state of Washington. With the help

of his father-in-law, Otto Rietdorf, Joel became interested in

the building industry. After several years working both jobs,

he founded Davis Construction and Development Corpora-

tion at which time he quit working for the state. In the early

1980’s he founded Masterforms and successfully ran both

companies for a number of years.

In his free time Joel enjoyed working on one of the many

boats he owned throughout his lifetime. He and Sharon also

enjoyed getting together and socializing with friends. But

his greatest joy was time spent with his family. He cherished

every moment spent with his children and grandchildren.

He looked forward to those family vacations in places like

Lake Chelan, Wa; Palm Desert, Ca; and boating throughout

the Puget Sound.

Joel passed away on June 5, 2023 in his home in Olympia Wa

due to a heart condition, he was 88. We will miss his kind

heart and beautiful smile. He is survived by his son Brad

(Peggy) Davis; daughter Pam (Edward) Kramer and 5 grand-

children Krystina and Austin Davis and Joseph, Kathryn and

Samuel Kramer.

The last family owned funeral home in Thurston County.

Woodlawn Funeral Home Obituaries