Miriam Barbara Davis passed away peacefully in Bellevue, Washington on December 29, 2022. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Peter, Edward, and Henrick Grootendorst. Born in Rotterdam, Holland on March 23, 1931, she grew up as the only daughter of Commerina Maria Geertruida Van Toorn before gaining three brothers through her mother’s marriage to Edward H. Grootendorst.
The new Grootendorst Family moved to London, England where a family flower business was established. During the Second World War, Miri learned to speak English in a boarding school while her family’s business switched to growing tomatoes and other vegetables for local markets. Following The War, the family decided to immigrate to America and they temporarily joined their extended Grootendorst family in Michigan before permanently locating to Brookings, Oregon where a family nursery was established.
Miri attended Oregon State College where she met a handsome Naval Reserve Officer Training Candidate Jay Keith Davis. They married upon Jay’s graduation and were married until his death in 2017 (66 years). Almost immediately, Jay was off to the Korean War and began his naval career and Miri began her career as a Naval Officer’s Wife, following him duty-bound through Malta, Italy, and Turkey on various NATO assignments; through five submarine deployments; the Viet Nam War as wife of a submarine commander; and had the lead role in raising three children (Steve, Debbie, and Susan). During this time, Miri and Jay refined their sailing skills and retired for good in 1984. The two of them fulfilled their life-long dream of living on a sailboat, Malgre Tout and sailing along the Atlantic coast, the Caribbean and then across the ocean to the Mediterranean. In 1990 they sold their boat and relocated to the Seattle area. They soon joined the Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club and bought a new cruiser, Harmony. They became active members of the club and residents of Windsor House Condominiums.
Miri enjoyed travelling and frequented Holland and Belgium regularly to visit her Dutch cousins. She also travelled throughout Europe, Greece, Lebanon, Egypt, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Panama, Tahiti, and Australia.
Miri is survived by her son Steve and wife Nancy, grandchildren Matthew and Alexandra, and daughters Debbie and Susan.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to her favorite charity: St Labre Indian School, 112 St Labre Campus Dr, Ashland, Montana 59004.
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