CAMDEN – John Puffer Davis, 73, died Tuesday, June 9, 2010, at his home after a long struggle with progressive supranuclear palsy, while under the care of Kno-Wal-Lin Hospice. Born Dec. 3, 1936, in Columbia, at his grandparent’s farm in Washington County, he was the son of Bertram E. and Sara (Puffer) Davis. He grew up on a coastal peninsula surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and 22 cousins. As a child John attended a one-room schoolhouse near the family home, where his mother was a teacher. His father was a sea and shore fisheries warden. He went lobstering with many family members as a boy and by age 14, owned a small boat and a set of lobster traps. John was salutatorian in the Class of 1954 at Addison High School. He attended Maine Maritime Academy and graduated from Washington State Teacher’s College, Machias, Class of 1959. His memberships included Kappa Mu Alpha; a former member of Eastern Harbor Grange, Addison; Goose River Snowmobile Club, Rockport; and Megunticook Teacher’s Association, Camden. His first position as an educator was teaching fifth grade in Benton. In 1960 John came to Camden, where he taught fifth grade for several years, then taught middle school math at Mary Taylor Middle School until retiring in 1984. John also coached junior high school baseball during his teaching career. On June 24, 1962, he married Elaine Alley at First Congregational Church, Camden. John’s hobbies included camping, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. After retiring he spent a number of winters in Florida. In more recent years, he very much enjoyed attending school and sporting events for his granddaughters. Surviving is his wife of 48 years, Elaine Alley Davis; his loving and devoted daughter, Jennifer Davis Rubenstein and her husband, Peter, of Camden; very special granddaughters, Nicole Rubenstein and her fiance, Orrin Todd, of Lincolnville and Brittany Rubenstein of Camden; a sister, Lorraine Davis White; his mother-in-law, Alice C. Alley of Camden; niece, Maria L. White of Ellsworth; nephew John R. White and his wife, Dawn, and daughter, Lauren, all of Lamoine; two aunts, one uncle, many cousins and their families. He was predeceased by his parents; and his brother-in-law, Joseph P. White. A memorial service with a reception afterward will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, at First Congregational Church, 55 Elm St., Camden, with the Rev. Kevin Pleas officiating. Memorial donations may be made to Camden First Aid Association, P.O. Box 368, Camden, ME 04843 or Kno-Wal-Lin Hospice and Palliative Care, 170 Pleasant St., Rockland, ME 04841. Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain St., Camden.
JOHN P. DAVIS
