Tributes

Joal LeRoy Davis, age 80, made his decision to leave this world on Saturday, April 8, 2017. He bravely struggled with PTSD, clinical depression, and major anxiety for almost 20 years. He died at his home in Leon Springs. He is survived by Shirley Mazotas Davis, his wife of 41 years, and cat Jake. Born in Portland, Oregon on June 26, 1936, to the late Alice Davis and the late Joseph L. Davis, Joal had a particular aptitude for mathematics and worked his way through a junior engineering college in Portland. During that time, he served his country as a member of the National Guard. He received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in June, 1956. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Military Science and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in June 1960. Joal’s specialty in the Army Infantry was intelligence. He resigned his commission as a First Lieutenant in April of 1963. He then maintained his status as a Reserve Commissioned Officer. He continued to serve his country in that capacity until April of 1965. Joal was employed as a Mechanical Engineer for Tektronics, a technology company in Beaverton, Oregon, until December, 1975. Joal then moved to San Antonio, TX to work as a Mechanical Engineer for Datapoint Corporation – a computer manufacturer. Joal also reconnected with the love of his life, Shirley Ann Mazotas. Shirley and Joal married at Saint Luke’s Catholic Church in San Antonio, on May 8, 1976. Joal left Datapoint to accept a job as a Senior Research Engineer at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) where he remained until his retirement in 1986. Joal was a Renaissance Man with an incredible intellect. Mathematics, History and English Literature made up his reading library. A high school track star, he was a sports enthusiast – particularly the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Red Sox. Classical music was his passion as was chess. He was a staunch Democrat. A kind, quiet, pensive, “gentle” man, and gentleman with an off-beat, subtle, sense of humor. Joal loved his cats, his former: Fuzzy, Samantha, Pesky, Daphne, and Lulu; as well as his current: Jake. Most of all, he loved his wife, Shirley. Joal and Shirley spent 41 years together, until his death parted them physically. SERVICES A Private Graveside Service with Military Honors was held at Mission Burial Park North.

Tributes

Joal LeRoy Davis

June 26, 1936 - April 8, 2017