July 26, 1947 ~ August 8, 2022 (age 75)
Obituary
Joseph E. Davis, beloved husband, father, physician, “Poppy”, “Tio”, and friend went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus on August 8, 2022. Born in Edinburg, Texas to Joseph E. and Virginia Haden Davis on July 26, 1947, he spent his early years working with his brother Bill in the family farming and cotton ginning business.
After graduation from Edinburg High School, Joe attended Texas Tech University where he married and started his family. He attended medical school at Southwestern in Dallas. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston with a two-year fellowship at the Heart and Lung Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.
His first year of practice was in Estes Park, Colorado, but he returned to Texas with his young family where Super Gym sealed the deal for bringing him to Nacogdoches.
He loved the practice of medicine during what he called the “golden years.” He wanted all his patients to be healthy and thus began his journey into Ultrafit, the writing of his first book, and Ultrafit Preventative Medicine Centers in the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Kerrville, and Victoria. During this time, he enjoyed his weekly bantering with Davis Rankin on KURV radio.
His love of business, agriculture, and feeding people led him to Colorado where he started the Noah project. Other endeavors included the Laughing Goat Farmers’ Market, and building a food company in Pea Green, as well as raising and breeding dairy goats.
After surrendering his life to the Lord in 2002, he often remarked that his life became an even more exciting adventure and journey: whether he was practicing medicine or working with feeding ministries, he took every opportunity to share Jesus with whomever he encountered. It was at this time he wrote his second book as a way of communicating with his patients and friends on a deeper level.
Joe was so appreciative of the many people who came alongside him during his lifetime who supported and shared in the realization of his vision for helping people. In the last three years of his life, Joe’s love of warm weather prompted his return to his Valley roots where he continued his food ministries and caring for people at Haven of Hope in San Juan.
He was very proud of his children and grandchildren for developing and using the gifts they were given.
Joe is survived by his wife Pam, his sons Thad Davis (Sarah), Bryan Davis (Kelley), his daughters Sarah Spivey (Scott), Kathy Summers (Mark), his grandchildren Brandt, Blake, Bayli, Max, Addison, Ford, Luke, Tyler, Elyse, and Lincoln. Also surviving are his brother Bill Davis (Brenda), sister Jenny Hudsonpillar (Mike), and his beloved nieces.
A celebration of life will be held at Laird Funeral Home in Nacogdoches, Texas on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Rick Hurst will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Harvest House Backpack Program North Street Church of Christ, 3914 North Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75965, or Iglesia Missionera Cristo Vive Feeding Ministry, 315 David Avenue, Pharr, Texas 78577.