Joan Denise (Toro) Davis was born in Andover, Massachusetts on October 12, 1957 to Joseph Anthony Toro and Lois Mae ‘Mott’ Toro. She died with the grace of the final sacraments of anointing and viaticum on April 14, 2023, in North Platte, Nebraska, surrounded by family and friends.
In her early years, the family lived in Plainfield, New Jersey, surrounded by the Toro and Mott families until 1968 when her father took an electrical engineering position with TRW Electronics in Ogallala, Nebraska. Joan was an avid reader and a delightful conversationalist whose wit and insights brought comfort, joy, and wisdom to many.
She earned an English teaching degree at the University of Lincoln in 1978 and later a Master’s Degree in Administration. She taught in Riverton, Wyoming on the Wind River Reservation and then began a long tenure at North Platte Public High School, serving in various capacities: an outstanding and loved English Teacher, Speech & Debate Coach, K-12 District English Curriculum Coordinator and finishing her career as the co-lead teacher of the life changing alternative High School, TLC, The Learning Center, retiring in 2017. She was an excellent cook and baker, enjoyed traveling, murder mysteries, and attending musicals, especially ‘Les Miserables’ which was her first date with her ‘to be’ husband. “To love another person is to see the face of God’ - Jean Val Jean (Les Miserables). She relished time with family and friends and she was sought out for her kind and quiet conversations of substance or frivolity.
The family is so grateful for the special friends, family and catholic laity and clergy who prayed with them and supported them during her long decline from chronic illness. Her deep Faith in God along with the many kind and generous gestures of others helped sustain her over these last challenging years.
Preceding her in death were her parents; in-laws, George and Janie (Drost) Davis; several unborn children; her Godmother, Betty Dahl; her sister in-law, Laurie Toro; and her niece, Leslie Davis.
She is survived by her husband, Deacon Michael Davis; their daughter, Elizabeth Mary ‘Liz’ Davis; brother, Gary Toro; sisters, Bev Toro and Annie (Don) Lopez; in-laws, Scott (Marci) Davis, Shanny Davis, Chris (Leasa) Davis, Linda Roggow, Marty (Donna) Davis, Tricia (Ted) Ferguson, Kelly (Marianne) Davis, Andy (Angela) Davis; aunt, Sandy (Bruce) Bloomer; special cousin, Randi (Barry) Munns; numerous nieces and nephews; and to name a few of her many wonderful, faithful friends, Don (Phylis) Swigart, Derryl (Pam) Barr, Lisa (Phil) Barkley, Sherri (Merle) Schroeder,
Patty (Rich) Birch, Cristy (Jerry) and their sons Aden and Lane Thompson, Anita Swanson, Deacon Mark and Laurie Stadler, and Shari Eckert.
Memorials are suggested to P.E.O. Continuing Education for women or Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Visitation will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte, Nebraska from 12 P.M. to 4 P.M. A rosary will be offered up for Joan at 7 pm on Monday, April 17th, 2023 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, North Platte, Nebraska. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am CT at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Fr. Vidya Sagar presiding, assisted by Deacon Kevin Fuller and Deacon Mark Stadler. Joan will be laid to rest at Ogallala Cemetery in Ogallala, Nebraska at 4 P.M. (CST).