Monte J. Davies, age ninety-seven years old, died peacefully on June 15th, 2024, at his home in Boise, Idaho.
Monte was born on January 30, 1927, in the small Utah town of Tropic, the son of Ammon and RDeen (Reynolds) Davis. After his mother’s untimely death a month later, Monte was raised by his maternal aunt Ethyl (Davis) and her husband Howard Johnson in Monroe, Utah. Ammon, his father, expected to eventually reunite with Monte, so he did not allow the Johnsons to adopt him. Although not adopted, Monte used the Johnson name until he finished his military service, when he legally changed his name to Monte “J” Davies, with the “J” honoring the family who raised him.
The Johnsons moved to Salt Lake City when Monte was a teenager, where he became a man by contributing to the family financially and taught himself to drive. Monte joined the navy in October, 1944, and soon found himself on a transport ship shuttling troop between the Philippines and a number of Pacific islands during World War II. His service even took him to Japan and France near the end of the war.
Monte returned to civilian life in the autumn of 1945. It wasn’t long before he met a beautiful girl while out dancing one night in Salt Lake City. “See that girl right there doing the jitterbug? I’m going to marry her,” Monte announced to his friend, and good to his words, on February 20, 1949, he and Afton (Toni) Mecham were married. They made their home in Salt Lake City, where their family increased with three children; Jolene, Michael and Debra.
Monte worked a series of jobs in the Salt Lake area, including a stint at the Kennecott Copper Mine, but when Kennecott’s workforce went on strike in 1957, he found a position working on the Brownlee and Oxbow dams, which were constructed in Idaho, across the Snake River. He was always an excellent hunter and fisherman, bringing home a variety of game to supplement the family menu, such as pheasant, elk, venison and fish he harvested during his time off.
As work on the dam dried up by 1963, Monte moved his family to Boise, Idaho, where he attended barber school. He soon opened his own shop on North Orchard Street, where for thirty-four years he was known as the best barber in town. “I learned to cut hair the way people wanted it cut,” said Monte, who also had a way with his clients, talking and joking as he snipped away at their hair. He was sorely missed by his loyal customers when he retired in 1989. One day he came across former customer who was really angry about the cut he had received at another shop. “Look,” he shouted, “just look! I just got my hair cut and look at it!”
Monte spent his retirement years fishing, hunting, panning for gold, and gathering wood in the forests of Idaho. He and Toni also travelled around the country with family and friends and enjoyed visits from their children and grandchildren. They both served The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Boise Idaho Mission office from 1992-93, after which they served in the Boise temple for many years.
Monte was known for his hard work ethic and his congenial nature. He remained fiercely independent, even as his abilities faded with age. Even in his last years he managed to keep a beautiful backyard garden where he grew a selection of fresh vegetables and fruits every summer. All of the grandkids have fond memories of sitting on the patio with their grandpa and his slingshot as he aimed at the thieving birds raiding his pair of precious cherry trees.
Among those who proceeded Monte in death were his father and mother; four siblings, including sisters Lafaye (Davis) Mulberry, Reta (Davis) Baldwin; brothers John Ammon Davis and Wells R. Davis; Monte’s half-sister Laura Jane (Davis) Auble and half-brothers Adelbert Delos Davis, Stanley Davis and half-sister Gailene (Davis) Veater; granddaughter Ginger Schooly.
Monte is survived by his wife Toni; children Jolene (husband Jerry) Fink; Michael Davies; and Debra (husband Don) Demers; 12 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 3700 S. Maple Grove Road Boise, Idaho with a visitation will be held on hour prior to the service. A private committal service will be held at a later date. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bowmanfuneral.com
To watch the service please click on the zoom link https://zoom.us/j/94303327137?pwd=TlFqeGJUQUNQNEVnWUd5cDB1eHYzQT09