Obituary of Miles Davies

Miles Davies was born August l9, 1928, and passed away at home September 1, 2013. His parents were George Marion Davies and Gladys Miles Davies, both from Nebraska. George Marion Davies came to the Deer Trail area to ranch in 1919. Miles was born in Denver and lived all of his life on the ranch west of Deer Trail. He attended Deer Trail School, graduating in 1946. He attended University of Colorado and transferred to Colorado A & M College, now Colorado State University (CSU), obtaining a B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry in 1950. He married Jeanne Brooks in 1951. They had four children, Susan, Stephen, Douglas and Patricia. Miles was active in the community as a school board member for 17 years and 4-H leader for 30 years. He was a seventy-year member of Colorado State Grange, served as vice-president and was on the executive committee for many years. Other activities included membership in the Colorado Agriculture Commission, CSU Livestock Leader Council, and National Western Stock Show Association. He was director of Colorado Simmental Association, helped organize the American Simmental Association and was director of the National Cattleman’s Beef Board. Miles was a member Colorado Cattlemen’s Association since 1951 and was President in 1995. He helped organize the Colorado Cattlemen Land Trust and served as a Director. He helped organize the County Weed District. Miles always cared for the land and was recognized as the Colorado Division of Wildlife Runner Up Landowner for the year 1991. He was recognized for his excellence in cattle breeding performance and received many awards. He was one of the first cattleman to introduce Simmental cattle into America and one of the first ranchers to use artificial insemination and embryo transplant in his cattle-breeding program. Miles and Jeanne were recognized by CSU’s Animal Science Department as Ag Leaders in 1993. Miles was inducted into Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2009. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne of 62 years, and his four children. Susan (Tom Hamm) Safford, Arizona; Stephen (Marilyn) Stromsburg, Nebraska; Douglas (Katherine) Aurora, Colorado; and Patricia (Bill) Gavin Fort Collins, Colorado. His is also survived by his sister, Doris Lighty, Sacramento, California; 5 grandsons, 9 step-grandchildren, 1 great-grandson, 9 step-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Miles was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Marion Norris.