William J. Davis

William J. Davis

June 28, 1946-April 2, 2025

aka: William, Billy Joe, Billy, Bill, Bubba, Bubba Joe

was born in Richmond, VA to Charles R. and Ada-Clarke Nuckols Davis. He graduated from Douglas S. Freeman HS in 1964 and went to the U of VA for 4 semesters where he made Deans' List all four semesters.  He dropped out of college to drive his uncle's milk trucks for several years.  Eventually he returned to college at the U of Tenn where he graduated with a degree in Commercial Transportation.  Both Labor and Management offered to send him to law school when he graduated but he replied to them,  "I'd rather just drive a truck."

He moved to Montana when he was 27 and never left.  He first settled in Missoula where he drove truck and was a mule packer for Smoke Elser.  Eventually he gave up the packing and settled into being a dispatcher for various truck companies in the area.  He moved to Frenchtown where he lived until he died. 

He is survived by his sister, Simone d'Aubigne,2 nephews, Nathanial and Seth Swallen and many friends from various walks of life. We all will miss his stories. A celebration of life ceremony will be held in early summer. Donations can be made to Montana Public Radio or the Blackfoot Challenge in his memory.