JoAnn Rosalie Davis, age 85, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2025. She was born on January 18, 1940, in Los Angeles, California, to the late William Laws and Anna Getz Laws. JoAnn grew up in Los Angeles, at 16 escaped an abusive home, and later moved to Oregon in 1968, where she spent the remainder of her life.
JoAnn was a truly devoted Christian, and she leaned heavily on her faith in Jesus Christ. She often helped homeless people, sometimes providing them with food and a place to live on her property even though she struggled financially. She prayed often for her family and friends. Above all things she was a loving, caring, social and empathetic person.
JoAnn had a lifelong love of music. She was part of a singing group in her teens. Later, she enjoyed singing in church and playing her autoharp and the piano, using her musical gifts to worship and encourage others. She also wrote songs, expressing her faith and creativity through music.
Throughout her life, JoAnn worked in many roles, reflecting her strong work ethic. She worked at Tektronix in Beaverton and Oregon-Washington Plywood in Garibaldi. She waitressed at several restaurants including the Hungry Harbor in Pacific City. She worked as a CNA and at Exact Electronics and JC Penney in Tillamook.
JoAnn faced significant challenges in her life, including a long battle with mental illness, particularly in her last 16 years. Sometimes she was ostracized and marginalized because people didn’t understand her behavior. She endured these challenges with perseverance and faith.
She was first married to Atwood Parnell (“Bill”) on August 25, 1957; together they had two children, Joy Neufeld (born in1958) and Paul Parnell (born in 1963). On November 21, 1973, she married Alton Lewis Davis.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her brother, William Laws Jr.; her sister, Ruth Griffin; her first husband, Bill Parnell; and her second husband, Alton Davis. She is survived by her sister, Kitty Belendez; her daughter, Joy Neufeld, and her husband, Steven Neufeld; her son, Paul Parnell, and his wife, Christina Romanik as well as 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
The family wants to express our gratitude to Sefika Alijaj, for providing our mother with amazing care in the last 2 years of her life.
A funeral service will be held on January 17, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Wauds Funeral Home, 1414 3rd Street, Tillamook.