1933 – 2004

NORWAY – Yoshiko “Josie” K. Davis, 71, of South Paris died Sunday, March 21, at Stephens Memorial Hospital.

She was born in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 10, 1933, the eldest daughter of Fumiji and Tsune Aoki Koyama, and a direct descendant of the Daimyo Koyama clan with lineage back to 1185.

She was educated in Tokyo schools and following graduation from Jissen Girls High School in 1947, was employed for a number of years at Miyata Manufacturing and as a projectionist at the Hollywood Theater in Tokyo.

She married John R. Davis at Yokohama, Japan, in 1953, and came to this country in 1955. They resided in Locke Mills, then at several military bases before returning to Rumford and then making their home in South Paris.

For a number of years she was employed in the cafeteria at the Rumford Center Elementary School, Melville Shoe and Norway Footwear in Norway and by Norway/Paris Solid Waste where she was affectionately known by the townspeople as “Josie”.

She was a very devoted wife and mother, and doted on her grandchildren. She was an extremely fine cook, enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and was an avid Red Sox fan enjoying her visits to Fenway Park while the family was stationed in Boston.

During her husband’s second tour of duty in Japan, she attended the Kamakura School of Japan Dollmaking and graduated as a licensed instructor.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, John of South Paris; a daughter, Kei Malone and her husband Robert of Charlemont, Mass.; two sons, Paul of Auburn and William of South Paris; her special kitty, Lobo; a brother, Takeshi Koyama of Tokyo, Japan; two sisters, Mrs. Kishiko Ito and Mrs. Ishiko Kasai both of Yokohama, Japan; three special sisters-in-law, Mrs. Mary Hazelton of West Covina, Calif., Mrs. Joan Kimball of Rumford and Mrs. Betty Hollis of Norway; nine grandchildren, James, Mariko, Stephen, Douglas, Sarah, William, Jason, Katrina and John; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by two sons, SP4 James, USA and Frederick; her parents; and a sister, Mrs. Toshiko Chida of Yokohama, Japan.