Davis, Michael Bartling

Michael “Mike” Bartling Davis 74, of Mesa AZ passed away peacefully on Monday, August 15, 2016 in his home in Mesa AZ after a long battle with respiratory issues and kidney disease. Mike was born in Los Angeles CA on December 11, 1941 to Ferdinand and Alice Jayne Davis (Higgins), the first of three children. His mother Jayne died when he was about 10 years old and later his father married Marie Belle Webb who raised the  children and added their daughter Debbie to the family a few years later.  After graduation from  Riverside Polytechnic High School in June 1959, he entered the U. S. Navy in July 1959 and served until December 1962 in the Pacific Fleet.  He remained Naval Reserve until July 1965 and then settled in the cities of Torrance and Redondo Beach in Southern California.  After a few years, Mike decided to pursue a career in teaching and attended El Camino College in Torrance CA from June 1968 to January 1972 majoring in Journalism.  He continued his education at California State University Northridge and earned his Bachelors Degree in English in June 1976.  He taught Junior High School English for the Los Angeles Unified School District and Santa Susana School in Chatsworth CA until 1982. After teaching, Mike worked as a courier and dispatcher for several messenger companies in CA and AZ.

In March 1983 Mike claims “it was love at first sight” when he met his soul mate, Marta.  They vowed to marry the following summer so Mike could enjoy a courtship for one year. Mike and Marta married the summer of 1984 in Torrance CA and settled in the Southeast area of Los Angeles CA. Mike became stepfather to Marta’s three children and over the years proved to be a beloved mentor and friend to them.  They relocated to Mesa AZ in 1998 to be closer to the growing immediate family but left behind a wonderful circle of friends and family. Within a few years all the children were also in AZ and the grandchildren were multiplying quickly. Together Mike and Marta created many memories by sharing things they held in common, reading, movies, music, dining out, Diamondback games and traveling. They also kept very busy with all the sports games and school events the grandchildren pursued.

Soon after the move to AZ, Mike’s health issues began and plagued him for many years.  The family says he had nine lives because he had survived so many serious medical conditions. After nearly 30 days hospitalized recently, Mike came home to die. He knew he was loved deeply and he was surrounded by loved ones in his final days.  Mike had a “good death” as we say in hospice.

Mike is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Maria Marta Davis (Valera), his brother Raymond Davis and sisters Patricia Tolman and Deborah Carr. He is preceded in death by his mother Alice Jayne Davis, father Ferdinand Davis and step-mother Marie Belle Davis. He will be missed dearly by his 3 stepchildren, Anthony Xavier Bachelier, Colette Monique Mora and Marissa Janelle Gonzalez, along with 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren (with the 5th great-grandchild due in December).

Mike was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to all who met him, making friends in life through his witty sense of humor, charm and intelligence.  He never made anyone feel ‘less than’ and believed in equality for all mankind… Mike loved unconditionally. He was happy to take one last vacation on the bucket list…a trip to New Orleans last fall.  Marta will miss her hero and mentor, friend and lover.

The family will be forever grateful for his doctors, nurses, therapists and aides at Banner Baywood Medical Center who provided care with dignity and compassion and to Americare Hospice. Memorial donations can be made to the Desert Southwest Chapter of JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) at jdrf.org in honor of Addison Parker, Team Addie’s Army ….love you sweet baby Addie ~  or to LOT2545, a ministry providing assistance to the teenage boys of Uganda.  Donate online  at www.lot2545.org or mail check to Lot 2545, 190 Clover Lane, Medford OR 97501

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2016 from 4:00 – 10:00pm in East Mesa for family and friends to honor Mike’s life. Scattering of ashes will be held privately by the family at a later date.