Laura Joyce Davis Dies; Former Sitkan Was 87

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Monday, 28 October 2024 15:17

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Laura Joyce Davis

Laura Joyce Davis, a former Sitkan, passed quietly at her home in Pahoa, Hawaii, with her family present, on March 28. She was 87.
Joyce was delivered at home during a raging snowstorm by her father on October 8, 1936, in Okanogan, Washington.
When she was a baby her parents, Richard and Victoria Cleaver, moved to Sitka in the Territory of Alaska, where they were housed briefly by the John and Esther Littlefield family, while Richard built barracks on Attu and fished the waters of Port Alexander.
Joyce graduated form the University of Washington in Seattle, where she roomed with Catherine Davis, who was bridesmaid at Joyce’s brief marriage to Gary Moats. After her divorce, and the birth of Marc Todd and Melanie Dawn, Joyce married the love of her life, Catherine’s brother Byron Harris Davis, and had Elida Marie.
In 1972, Joyce moved her family and parents to Port Alexander, where they built a home and fished while Joyce taught the children until a teacher could be hired, and also took a turn at being town mayor.
They later moved to Sitka, buying the F/V Medallion. Joyce worked for the Sitka Police Department for many years, but would “quit” each summer to fish from Southeast Alaska to the high seas, often with Joyce at the wheel as captain.
Joyce never met a stranger, trained many a deckhand, and loved to feed and entertain her neighborhood.
She joked she had to have a knee replacement in her 80s “just to keep swinging it over the rail.” She liked to say “Unless you have 40-foot waves crashing into your wheelhouse window, you don’t have a problem!”
Joyce and Byron relocated to Anchorage while continuing to fish Southeast. They took part in the first Alaska Native Charter School, which their grandson Casey attended. Joyce volunteered many hours while continuing to  work multiple jobs and fish. She never missed a card game, never kept score, and will be missed at many a hand.
After Byron and Marc’s passing, Joyce snowbirded to Pahoa, Hawaii, while fishing into her 80s. She gave freely of her love, time, friendship and forgiveness. She never saw a need she didn’t attempt to fill. She said every day is a blessing and don’t forget to pray for your leaders.
She leaves a legacy of education for the multiple degrees she paid for with no recognition. She would ask her family to be kind to one another, forgive daily and pay it forward to share what you can.
Joyce leaves behind her daughters Kathleen Dapcevich (Dave), Melanie Moats  (Mike Willianson), and Elida Horn (Ernest); sisters Catherin Constable and Linda Smith; grandchildren Nick, Hanni, Matt, James and Josie Horn, Casey Lee Moats, and Jennifer Ruhl; great-grandson Harry Skye Moats Johnston; and too many nieces, nephews, cousins and “adopted” grandchildren to name.
The family gave special thanks to Hawaii Care Choices and the many friends who showered Joyce with love.
Stories may be shared with her family at 16-2137 Coconut Drive 81357, Pahoa, HI 96778, or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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