Memories of my Grandparents, Bob and Jo from Granddaughter, Catherine Davis Sullivan

Every summer growing up I would spend two weeks visiting my grandparents on Iron Spring Ranch.  It was an extraordinary time, as a young girl I was able to explore to my heart's content.  Many hours were spent on the "back 40" dreaming up grand adventures.  As I got older I was put to work at the Summit Store and Restaurant (one summer I was in charge of making milkshakes, a glorious time).  I also spent many hours helping my grandma make those beautiful flower cards.
I am so lucky that she was able to make them as my wedding announcements seven years ago.

Every afternoon my grandpa would put me on the back of his motorcycle and we'd head to the post office to get the mail and find out the latest happenings.  Later, as they read the newspaper and napped, my solitary adventures would begin.  I had no idea at the time how much those days were influencing me and shaping my character.

I think my grandma believed her sole purpose in life was to get me to eat vegetables.  My sole purpose in life became finding ways to dispose of the vegetables without getting caught.  I never succeeded.

My grandma Jo passed away on my birthday.  I feel that is only fitting.  People talk about how quiet and unassuming she was.  I know she helped shape my character to make me who I am today.  She was a lovely woman and I will miss her sincerely.  My grandparents WERE Palomar Mountain and I know they will be missed by the mountain folk who were lucky enough to know them then.

My Jo Story from Terri Bailey and the Bailey Family

I will never forget being a new comer on the mountain. I had volunteered to run the bake sale, and some of the other Mountain legends, Katie Beishline, Alice Kilgore, Rena Mae Hamilton, Valerie Price, advised me to go over and talk to Mrs. Jo Davis.  They said she'd help me with what to do.

I drove over on a lovely spring day and I can remember being so nervous to be at the Davis Ranch and meeting Jo for the first time.
I was overwhelmed about the task ahead of me.  She put me at ease right off the bat, and welcomed me as though we had already met.
She was not only helpful, but her calm presence gave me the confidence I needed to get the job done. Not to mention her peach pie recipe.

Jo said, all I needed was a few friends and some good mountain. Apples. She said "Mountain folks can't resist helping or good apple pie."  She had a way of explaining things with few words and a very warm welcoming self assured way about her.
Her yard was in full bloom with so many beautiful flowers, and once inside her home I saw her love of crafting, that told me I was with someone beautiful who loved nature and this mountain.

I was recently passed on a little collection of quails that belonged to her. She had given them to a Palomar Mountain friend that was moving away. She felt they should have a home on the Mountain. We gladly accepted them and they are tucked safely away in the Bailey House with other memories of past friends. We treasure these little birds as a reminder of someone who loved the Mountain as we do.

Bob and Jo Davis were neighbors of ours for many decades. Some of our favorite photos are the ones taken at the old Iron Springs Fall, with our past family swimming there in the mid 1800's.
Truly a mountain Legend, like so many others who will now take her place among the stars.

P.S. At that first meeting I asked Jo, "How many pies did you girls bake up?"
She said, in a very no big deal way," around 300 or so" :O


From Jim and Diane Kirkes, Hemet, CA

Jo Davis was a long time member of the PMVFD Board, serving as treasurer. Her very skillful investing of the department's savings enabled us to be able to acquire the land the station is now on and to build the metal building. The community owes her a lot for her efforts.