Eternal Patrol: Jay Davis

Jay Keith Davis, 88, departed on Eternal Patrol on February 25, 2017.

Jay was born in Oakpark, Illinois on February 14, 1929 to loving parents Keith and Gretchen Davis. He grew up on Vashon Island where he began a life with the sea by learning to fish for salmon from a skiff with his father in Puget Sound. He graduated from Vashon High School where in spite of the team not winning any games his senior year, he was their star player. Following high school, Jay went to Oregon State University where he earned a Bachelor's degree and a U.S. Navy commission in 1951. While at OSU, he met Miriam Burwick and they married the day following graduation. Jay was then off to the Korean War where he served as a gunnery officer on the USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7). In 1955, Jay qualified for submarines and was assigned to the USS Razorback (SS-394). Jay's Navy career proceeded through numerous submarine tours on five submarines, culminating with his command of the USS Spinax (SS-489) during 1964-66, where he had one Viet Nam tour. In between submarine duty, he had tours overseas with NATO and he and the family moved to Malta and Turkey.

Jay retired from the U.S. Navy in 1972 winding up his career with the Pentagon. He then spent the next twelve years working for various defense contractors on both submarine missile systems and anti-submarine warfare technologies. During this time, he and Miri refined the sailing skills and then retired for good in 1984. The two of them fulfilled their life-long dream of living on their sailboat, Malgre Tout and sailing along the Atlantic coast, the Caribbean and then the Mediterranean. In 1990, they sold their boat and relocated to the Seattle area. They soon joined the Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club and bought a new cruiser, Harmony. They became active members of the club, helping establish a youth sailing program and Jay offering consulting and instruction services to new boat owners.

He is succeeded by his loving wife of sixty-six years Miri, his son Steve and wife Nancy, grandchildren Matt and Alexandra, and daughters Debbie and Susan.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the U.S. Submarine Veterans-Seattle Base, 12105 48th Dr., SE, Everett, WA 98208

You can share your condolences and memories of Jay at this link. A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00pm, Sunday, April 2, 2017 at Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club, 9927 Meydenbauer Way SE, Bellevue, WA 98004. Phone:(425) 454-8880.