Norman (sometimes Dave) Valentine Davis was dragged, fighting all the way, into the netherworld on February 15, 2026. He was 93 years and one day old.

Norm was born on Valentine's Day, 1933, in Nelson, BC to Doug and Agnes Davis. He was the fourth of six kids, four of them boys. He grew up in the small town of South Slocan, BC.

Like all the Davis kids, Norm was keen to get out of the Kootenays and see the world. After a stellar academic start he dropped out of school after grade 10 and, in 1951, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as an aeroengine mechanic. On completion of training he spent time in Sumerside, PEI before an overseas posting to Langar, England where he met the love of his life, Carol Jean Elizabeth McNaught-Davis, and spent the next 65 years at her side until she died.

Subsequent postings after Langar took him to Rivers, Manitoba (not Carol's favourite place); Baden Baden, Germany (twice); Cold Lake, Alberta; Lamacaza, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario; Comox, BC, and finally Jericho Beach in Vancouver, BC where he retired after 37 years in the RCAF.

He commisioned from the ranks in 1965 as an Aeronautical Engineer and retired in 1988 as a Major. He spent the biggest part of his career working on fighters (CF86 Sabres, CF101 Voodoos, and CF104 Starfighters). He loved 104s! He also was the maintenance officer for Bomarc missiles, and claimed to be the custodian of the last nuke weapon in Canada before they were all sent back to the US. In Baden, he was the Snags Recovery Officer (SRO). He investigated all crashed and broken CF104s, and ran the maintenance section for the three Canadian fighter squadrons in Germany.

After retirement Norm and Carol lived in Vancouver running Carol's business, Pacific Conference Group. When she retired they moved to Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island and then finally to Victoria. Clearly, leaving South Slocan to see the world was a successful move.

Norm's upbringing in the Koots left him with a lifelong love of the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He and his brothers did annual trips salmon fishing, and regular trips back to the Kootenays hunting the "laughing elk" (laughing because they never got one).

Much to the chagrin of Carol (who was perpetually seasick), Norm loved the water and was an avid boater. He owned several progressively larger boats and loved spending time in them on the water. His last boat, a 30 foot sailboat named Senang Hati is still cruising the Pacific Northwest.

Norm was also a keen skier, and he skied until he could no longer get up by himself when he fell. He retired his super senior pass at the ripe old age of 83.

Norm is survived by his two sons Gary (Nancy), and Mark; his grandchildren Cameron (Libby), and Alistair (Alison); and his sister Dianne (Walter).

He was preceded in death by his wife Carol, and his siblings Doug, Barbara, Geoff, and Bruce.

He will be fondly remembered as a loving Dad and Grandfather, and a true gentleman.