Edward Lary Davis CSM (RET)

SCARBOROUGH – Edward Lary Davis, CSM (RET), 93, passed away on June 28, 2024, at the Maine Veterans Homes in Scarborough with his children by his side.

Ed lived a full and rich life and had a lot to be proud of. He was born May 17, 1931, to Carroll P. Davis and Flora D. (Brewer) Hartford in Portland, Maine, Ed was educated in Portland and Waterville schools, later graduating from Bucksport High School in 1949. His fondest memories of growing up in rural North Bucksport were of spending time with his friends out in the local woods and streams hunting and fishing. Ed also holds an associate’s degree in science from City University, Seattle, Wash.

Ed was a standout athlete in his high school years, playing both basketball as a forward and baseball as a pitcher. He later played on “town” teams in both sports, at times earning a little money, thus achieving the moniker of “semi-pro”. Ed also tried out for the Boston Braves farm team as a pitcher during an open call.

After graduation, Ed traveled to Aroostook County to harvest potatoes. It was the hardest work he would ever do. That same year, he went to work at the American Can Company in Portland, serving 23 years until it closed in 1972. In fact, his father worked there for 40 years without missing a day of work.

Ed was very proud of his service to his country. His military career began with the Naval Reserve in South Portland in 1949, and he looked forward to learning the science of sonar. Despite his Naval Reserve status, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 where he was assigned to the 17th Infantry Regiment and the 7th Signal Company, 7th Infantry Division Replacement Center, somewhere in the Chorwon Valley, Korea. He was tasked with delivering battle plans to the fighting units at the front lines.

After the completion of his service in Korea, Ed joined the Army Reserve in 1954 until 1961 when he enlisted in the Air Force Reserve in Portland. After that unit closed, in 1965 he joined the Army National Guard in South Portland. When the American Can Company closed in 1972, Ed became a full-time technician at that same unit. In 1978 the opportunity arose for him to go back on active duty with the Army National Guard as a First Army National Guard Guidance Counselor at the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station in the Portland Post Office building.

In 1982 he was promoted as the Army National Guard’s first recruiting and retention non-commissioned officer in charge in Augusta. Later, he was promoted again to senior enlisted advisor to the Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard with the rank of Command Sergeant Major (CSM). He retired in December 1991 after 42 years of continuous military service, earning numerous medals including the Combat Infantry Badge for his service in Korea.

In 1975, Ed began volunteering for Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a Master Safety Instructor. In 1992, he was hired as a Regional Safety Coordinator with responsibility for the six disciplines IF&W teaches. For several years, Ed was also an instructor at University of Maine’s 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond and taught Becoming an Outdoors Woman, both of which were attended by his granddaughter from Israel. By the time he retired in 2005, he had supervised over 60 volunteer instructors and taught thousands of students in the safe practices of outdoor sports. More than that, he taught them how to be safe members of society and how to get along with everyone. As Ed put it, “every life is worth saving”. He hopes that “they (the students) look back and say, I learned this (how to be an upstanding citizen) from Ed Davis, certified Hunter Safety Instructor”. Once again, his passion for teaching life skills to young men and women would be his legacy. He continued to volunteer as an instructor into his eighties.

Ed was a registered Master Maine Guide since 1957 and a certified rifle marksmanship merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts of Maine. He was an NRA-certified rifle marksmanship training counselor, and a member of the Bucks Mills Rod and Gun Club.

Ed belonged to many service organizations. He was a life member of Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Augusta Area Military Association, the Scottish Rite NMJ, and the Korean War Veterans Association as a past President. In addition, he was a member in good standing of the Kora Shrine, Deering Lodge of Masons, the Rockland American Legion, and the Maine Military Historical Society. He was an active volunteer at the Maine Veterans Home in Bangor through the Masonic Service Association and House in the Woods as Master Maine Guide and friend to disabled veterans. Ed was a past treasurer of the former North Bucksport United Methodist Church and, until recently, held an annual reunion for Bucksport High’s Class of 1949 at his former home on Toddy Pond.

Ed was predeceased by his parents and his beloved sister May and her husband George of Owls Head. He leaves behind his daughter Lynn of Brunswick and her daughter Rebekah and husband Mati of Rehovot Israel; his son and daughter-in-law Lary and Christina of Scarborough and their daughter Monica and son Grant. Also, the mother of his children Phyllis of Westbrook, with whom he remained the best of friends, cousins in Canada, and a step-sister Virginia of Blue Hill.

Ed led an active and diverse life and touched many lives. He was always giving his time, energy and knowledge to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. He was loved by so many and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Ed’s family wishes to especially thank the staff in C-Unit at the Maine Veterans Homes in Scarborough for their compassionate and loving care, as well as the friendships he made there, and Compassus Hospice of Scarborough for not only assisting with Ed’s care but also supporting us, his family.

Family and friends will gather for visitation at 2 p.m. until time of service at 3 p.m. on Saturday July 6, 2024, at Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home 28 Elm Street Bucksport. A committal service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday July 11, 2024, at Riverview Cemetery with Military Honors. (mitchelltweedie-young.com).

In lieu of flowers,

donations may be made in his memory to:

House in the Wood

217 Skunk Hill Rd.

Lee, ME 04455