Longtime Gladstone resident Edward Mackin ‘Mack’ Davis, 83, of Gladstone, died March 3rd at Christian Park Village Nursing Home.
Mack was born on July 12, 1924 in Gladstone, the son of Shirley and Katherine (Mackin) Davis, and was a lifelong Gladstone resident. He graduated from Gladstone High School in 1942 and attended Northern Michigan University before entering military service in the Army. He served with distinction and pride in World War II with the famed ski troopers of the 10th Mountain Division, 85th Regiment, I Company. He saw combat in Italy’s rugged Po Valley and in the bloody battles against the German Army on Mount Belvedere. Mack was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant from the Army on January 2, 1946.
Mack was particularly proud of his service with the 10th Mountain Division and served as president of the Upper Peninsula chapter of the 10th Mountain Division Association. Through this organization, he maintained a close friendship with other members of “10th”, both in the Upper Peninsula and throughout the United States.
After his return to Gladstone in 1946, Mack began working for the Escanaba Paper Company in the wood yard. During his career, he worked in many areas throughout the paper mill, retiring in 1984 as foreman of the Quality Control Lab after 39 years of service.
He married the former Mildred Olive Groos, on April 13, 1950, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Escanaba, and they made their home in Gladstone.
Mack was a member of All Saints Catholic Church of Gladstone. He was very active for many years in the American Legion, August Mattson Post 71, where he was a long time member and past Post Commander. His greatest pride with the American Legion was the friends he made at the Legion Club. As the organizer and commander of the American Legion Drill Team, he lead the drill team to win the State of Michigan Precision Drill Team championship in 1964. Mack was also active in the Mead Rod and Gun Club, Bay de Noc Beagle Club and Trails End Trap Club where he shared friendships for over 40 years.
His family remembers him as a rugged outdoorsman who thoroughly enjoyed hunting and fishing. The highlights of his year centered around duck and grouse hunting in the fall, deer hunting in November, ice fishing in the winter, and trap shooting and fishing in the summer. He spent many happy hours at his hunting camp near Helps, Michigan, and at his property near Cornell on the Escanaba River.
Mack is survived by three sons, Colonel James (Camella) Davis of Las Vegas, Nevada; Tom “Satch” (Cindi) Davis of Gladstone; Michael (Teri) Davis of Centennial, Colorado, and daughter Jean Davis of Gladstone. Mack is also survived by one brother Tom (Alice) Davis of Gladstone. Mack was also particularly proud of his grandchildren, Steve and Chris Davis of Gladstone, Keith and Nathan Davis of Centennial, Colorado, and Josh and Jamie Ackerman, also of Centennial, Colorado.
In addition to his parents, Mack was preceded in death by his wife Millie on January 28, 2008.
The family of Mack Davis will receive friends on Tuesday, March 11th at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone from 3:00 to 5:15 pm. Military rites will be conducted at 5:15pm at the funeral home by the Gladstone American Legion and representatives of the 10th Mountain Division. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 6:00pm at All Saints Church in Gladstone with Reverend Rev. Arnold J. Grambow officiating. Luncheon will follow service in the church parish hall. Burial will be in Fernwood Cemetery, Gladstone.
The family has set up a Gladstone Area Schools scholarship in memory of Mack and Millie Davis, and respectfully requests memorials in lieu of flowers be directed to the Gladstone Schools Education Foundation, 400 South 10th Street, Gladstone, MI, 49837.
