Verna Joann Davis
1933 to 2025
Joann (Puffer) Davis, age 92, passed away on 12-9-2025 in Auburndale, Florida.
She was born September 1, 1933, to the late Kneelon J. Puffer and Irene E. Halpin (Cady), in Lansing, Michigan. Joann graduated from Resurrection Catholic High School (Lansing, MI) in 1951 and went on to graduate from the St. Lawrence School of Nursing in 1954. She attended Lansing Community College during the 1980s where she began studies in the Spanish language and earned a BA degree in Spanish from Michigan State University in 1991 at the age of 57.
On April 21,1956, she married J. Verne Davis Jr of Lansing. They enjoyed 54 years together raising their five children, and held MSU basketball season tickets for 47 years. Joann was an avid golfer, loved tennis, and never turned down a card game. They were members of Resurrection church in Lansing for 48 years and were very active in parish life there. In the 1980s she became active in the Cristo Rey Community Center working with the mobile health unit which helped with aid for the migrant farm workers. For the last 25 years she resided in Haines City, Florida where she was a member of St. Ann Catholic church and lived in Sweetwater Golf and Tennis Club community.
Joann is survived by her children, J. Verne III (Cherie) Davis, Kelly (Carole) Davis, Elizabeth (Joe) Pandy and Cynthia (Brad) McDowell, sibling Lynn Budd; 6 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Verne; her parents, her daughter, Diana Davis, her brother Kneelon Puffer and sister Jane Chaney and sibling Julie Puffer.
There will be a Catholic Rite of Committal (burial service) in Michigan in the spring.
1933 to 2025
Joann (Puffer) Davis, age 92, passed away on 12-9-2025 in Auburndale, Florida.
She was born September 1, 1933, to the late Kneelon J. Puffer and Irene E. Halpin (Cady), in Lansing, Michigan. Joann graduated from Resurrection Catholic High School (Lansing, MI) in 1951 and went on to graduate from the St. Lawrence School of Nursing in 1954. She attended Lansing Community College during the 1980s where she began studies in the Spanish language and earned a BA degree in Spanish from Michigan State University in 1991 at the age of 57.
On April 21,1956, she married J. Verne Davis Jr of Lansing. They enjoyed 54 years together raising their five children, and held MSU basketball season tickets for 47 years. Joann was an avid golfer, loved tennis, and never turned down a card game. They were members of Resurrection church in Lansing for 48 years and were very active in parish life there. In the 1980s she became active in the Cristo Rey Community Center working with the mobile health unit which helped with aid for the migrant farm workers. For the last 25 years she resided in Haines City, Florida where she was a member of St. Ann Catholic church and lived in Sweetwater Golf and Tennis Club community.
Joann is survived by her children, J. Verne III (Cherie) Davis, Kelly (Carole) Davis, Elizabeth (Joe) Pandy and Cynthia (Brad) McDowell, sibling Lynn Budd; 6 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Verne; her parents, her daughter, Diana Davis, her brother Kneelon Puffer and sister Jane Chaney and sibling Julie Puffer.
There will be a Catholic Rite of Committal (burial service) in Michigan in the spring.
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