Elizabeth Miriam Gesler and John Dexter Davis

JOHN DEXTER DAVIS, son of ELIZABETH MARY MCCLELLAND and WILLIAM SAMUEL DAVIS, was born March 14, 1909 in Warsaw, Benton, Missouri,^{250, 9012} and died June 14, 1991 in Sonoma, Sonoma, California.^{250, 9012} He is buried in Lone Oak Cemetery, Stayton, Marion, Oregon.^{9012, 456}

He married ELIZABETH MIRIAM GESLER in November, 1936 in Centralia, Lewis, Washington.⁵²¹⁷ She was born September 9, 1909,⁴⁵⁶ and died October 27, 1972 in Salem, Marion, Oregon.⁹⁰¹³ She is buried in Lone Oak Cemetery, Stayton, Marion, Oregon.^{456, 9013}

• Descendant Reports
  • Samuel Houston Descendant Report (Ancestor of John D. Davis)

News Tribune, November 9, 1936⁹⁷¹⁰

Married At Home

Gesler-Davis Rites in Centralia Mean Tacoma Home

Tacoma and Southwest Washington friends are greatly interested in the marriage of Miss Elizabeth Miriam Gesler of Centralia to John Davis of Tacoma, a son of the late William S. Davis and Mrs. Elizabeth Davis of Alderwood Manor.

The bride is a daughter of the late A. C. Gesler and Mrs. Gesler, and the ceremony was at the family home, 202 North Washington avenue, Centralia, held in the presence of kinfolk and intimates.

Rev. N. M. Jones, pastor of the Methodist church, officiated and the beloved songs and wedding marches were given by Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Simmons.

Outlining a ribbon aisle for the bride's entrance, little Betty Lou and Barbara Ann Birdseye, twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Story Birdseye of Seattle, took their places at the improvised altar, their dainty taffeta dresses matching in color the wealth of golden chrysanthemums beside them.

The bride entered with her late father's close friend, J. C. McNiven, who gave her in marriage. She was unattended by maids and made a picture for remembrance in her wedding gown of eggshell velvet of Mary Stuart mode, with rare lace at the throat and Ophelia roses in her arms.

Immediately following the rites Mrs. Gesler and Mrs. Davis stood with their son and daughter as guests gathered close to speak their Godspeed. Assisting during the supper hour were Mrs. B. F. Rambo of Montesano, Mrs. V. D. Timmerman, Centralia, Mrs. J. D. Wonderly, Miss Geraldine Martin and Miss Trunette Freeman, all of Centralia; Miss Helen Chaney and Miss Dorothy Chausey of Olympia, and Mrs. Birdseye; with Master John and little Ann McNiven in charge of the guest-book.

Tacomans are delighted that the marriage means another home here, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, after their honeymoon journey establishing themselves at The Tahoma. Mrs. Davis, a member of a family resident in Centralia for more than a score of years, graduated from the University of Oregon, taking post-graduate work at the University of Michigan and specializing in social service work with the Seattle family welfare organization. She is an alumna of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.

Mr. Davis attended Westminster college in Fulton, Mo., and the University of Washington, and is established with the Weyerhaeuser Timber company in Tacoma.

Oregon Statesman, October 28, 1972⁹⁰¹³

Elizabeth G. Davis

STAYTON — Elizabeth G. Davis, 63, 1230 Pine St., died Friday at a Salem hospital of an apparent heart attack.

Born in the Portland area, she moved here 17 years ago from Lake Oswego. She was president of Santiam Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

Surviving are widower John; daughters Jeanne Davis, Stayton, and Mrs. Barbara Granicher, Washington, D.C.; three grandchildren.

Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Weddle mortuary, Rev. Arthur Hansen officiating. Interment will be at Lone Oak Cemetery.

The family suggests contributions to Santiam Hospital Auxiliary.

Statesman Journal, June 19, 1991⁹⁰¹²

John D. Davis

March 14, 1909 — June 14, 1991

SONOMA, Calif. — John Dexter Davis, 82, died Friday.

He was born in Warsaw, Mo., and graduated from the University of Washington.

He married Elizabeth Gesler in 1936. She died in 1972.

He moved to Stayton in 1955 where he owned and operated Davis-Bell Insurance Agency until retiring in 1975,

He was mayor of Stayton in 1968, state president of the National Director of Independent Insurance Agents of Oregon from 1968 to 1969, state National Director of Independent Insurance Agents from 1970 to 1971, and served on the Oregon State Water Resources Board.

Survivors include his daughters, Barbara Granicher of Novato, Calif, and Jeanne Antilla of New Jersey; sisters, Florence Lewisohn of Mill Valley, Calif., and Mary Peters of Tacoma, Wash.; brother, Joseph of Olympia, Wash.; and five grandchildren. Memorial services will begin at 2 p.m. Friday in Weddle mortuary, Stayton. Interment will be in Lone Oak Cemetery, Stayton.