LANCASTER—Michael Charles Davis was born in Oneonta, N.Y., on April 13, 1938. When he was 15 years old, his family moved to Albany, N.Y., where he attended the Christian Brothers Academy and was an active Boy Scout and Eagle Scout like his father and son.
Mike enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and became an imagery analyst stationed at SAC Offut Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb. Unknown publicly for three decades, Mike was the imagery analyst who discovered the Cuban Missiles that launched the Cuban Missile Crisis under President John F. Kennedy. Because of his work, Mike was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency and worked at the National Photographic Interpretation Center for 35 years.
While in Omaha, he met the love of his life, Patricia Louise Johnson, an elementary school teacher. They were married shortly after on November 5, 1960. The young couple moved to the East Coast where they split their time for the next three decades between Bowie, Md., and Lancaster. They retired in 1994 to their “TRYST” in the woods in Lancaster and became active members of their community.
Mike lived a life of stewardship and service as an Eagle Scout, an airman, a federal employee, a Knight of Columbus, and a beloved husband and father. He was often seen plowing snow, cutting grass, testing water samples, and grading the community roads. He was also known as the unofficial “Mayor” of his community, Heritage Point.
Mike is preceded in death by his son, Edward Davis.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia Louise Davis; his sister, Maureen Mullin; and by Ed’s wife, Lynne Davis; daughters, Cynthia M. Glakas (James N. Glakas) and Therese Jean Lally (Greg R. Lally); as well as six grandchildren, Anjelica and Marisa Davis, Michael and Diana Glakas, and Ryan and Hannah Smith.
A Mass was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Kilmarnock. Interment followed the service in the church cemetery.
Family received friends from 5 to 7 p. m. Monday, April 17, at Currie Funeral Home, Kilmarnock.
