Joan M. Davies, 85
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. â€' Joan Mina Davies, 85, of 165 Church St., died on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008.
Born in North Adams, on April 18, 1923, daughter of Nelson S. and Verne Armstrong McCraw, she graduated from Drury High School in 1940. She was the granddaughter of W.P. McCraw, who was a partner in the McCraw & Tatro's Department Store in North Adams in the mid-19th century. Inspired by her grandfather, she attended Lasell College in Auburndale, graduating from its Fashion and Retail Merchandising Program in 1942.
Mrs. Davies was employed in retail for 25 years, working after college in New York City for Macy's and B. Altman Co. as a comparison buyer.
One of her passions was horses and horse racing. She owned several race horses and raced mostly at Saratoga (N.Y.) Race Course until stopping to raise her son in the 1950s. In 1951, she was crowned queen of the fall parade, which would later be called the Fall Foliage Festival Parade.
She and her husband, Russell Edward Davies, were married on Nov. 27, 1944, in Hagerstown, Md.
Besides her husband, she leaves her son, Curtis Russell Davies of Egg Harbor City, N.J., and two granddaughters, Daniele Marie and Monique Opal Davies.
FUNERAL NOTICE â€' Burial took place in Hillside Cemetery in North Adams on Sept. 11, 2008.
Arrangements were handled by Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagan Home for Funerals, 74 Marshall St. North Adams.