Joan Mina Davies

Joan Mina Davies 1923 - 2008 NORTH ADAMS Joan Mina Davies, 85, of 165 Church St., died unexpectedly on Saturday Sept. 6. She was the daughter of Verne Armstrong McCraw and Nelson Stewart McCraw, and granddaughter of W. P. McCraw, who was a partner in the McCraw and Tatro's Department Store in North Adams during the mid-nineteenth century. She was born in North Adams, on April 18, 1923 and graduated from Drury High School with the class of 1940. Inspired by her grandfather, she attended Lasell College in Auburndale, entering their Fashion and Retail Merchandising Program, and graduated in 1942. After college, she worked in New York City for Macy's and B. Altman Co. as a comparison buyer. She worked in retail for 25 years, before retiring. She leaves her husband of nearly 65 years, Russell Edward Davies, whom she married on Nov. 27, 1944 in Hagerstown, M.D.; one son, Curtis Russell Davies of Egg Harbor City, N.J.; and two granddaughters Daniele Marie and Monique Opal Davies. One of her passions was horses and horse racing. She owned several race horses and raced mostly at Saratoga Horse Raceway in New York state. She retired from racing to raise her son in the 1950's. In 1951, she was crowned Queen of the fall parade, which would later be called the Fall Foliage Festival. FUNERAL NOTICE: Burial took place in Hillside Cemetery on Sept. 11, 2008. Arrangements were handled by FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS CENTRAL CHAPELS, 74 Marshall St. North Adams, MA.