Natalie DAVIS

DAVIS, Natalie died peacefully in Seattle, WA on March 15, 2017. She was 93. To the end, her love of family, books, music, birds, SW history, and the many friends who shared her interests filled her thoughts and enthusiastic conversations. Natalie was born in Portland, OR to Elmer and Florence Young and had one brother, Gordon. She graduated from Grant HS and worked briefly at a bank to finance her enrollment at the University of Arizona. She arrived in Tucson in 1943 and spent the next 70 years there before moving to Seattle at the age of 91 to be closer to family. At the UA Natalie pledged Pi Beta Phi and graduated with a BA in Spanish (Phi Beta Kappa). She also met her husband, J. Luther Davis, while they were UA students. It was serendipity that Natalie and Luther met in a restaurant in Mexico City while traveling on a college break. They married in 1947 and were devoted to each other until Luther passed away in 2002. Natalie and Luther put a high value on education - for themselves and their children. In 1967 Natalie returned to the UA and earned a M.A. in Latin American Studies. She and Luther traveled all over the world, visiting nearly every continent. For six summers they lived in the dorms and took classes at Cambridge University. To all she met, Natalie offered a gracious smile and unconditional respect. Her love of Southwestern natural history, art, architecture, and the intertwined histories of Native Americans, Mexico, and the US were life-long themes. For decades Natalie supported and participated in countless cultural and charitable organizations in southern AZ. She served on the Board of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and was its President in 1987. She was instrumental in developing the beloved hummingbird exhibit. For many years she volunteered in various capacities to support Mission San Xavier and later served on the Board of Patronato San Xavier as Treasurer. She volunteered at Tucson Medical Center for 20 years, including seven years as a Board member. She enjoyed a wide circle of friends and colleagues through her book and garden clubs, Pi Phi alums, Jr. League, and her 60+ years as a member of PEO. Natalie never failed to show enthusiastic support for her family's interests and ambitions, visiting them in far-flung places and always welcoming them home. Her grandkids have special memories of sitting at her breakfast table, watching the birds and other wildlife outside her window. Natalie is survived by her children, James Luther Jr. (Sally Loomis), Fred (Betsy George), and Peggy Kent (Dan); five grandkids, Risa, Amy, Maggie, Molly, and Alex (Hilary); and two great-grandkids, Nolan and James Luther. Services will be private. Memorials can be made to Patronato San Xavier or the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.