Mary Dusenbury

1924 - 2018

MARY DUSENBURY Mary Louise (Lehman) Dusenbury passed away on April 1, 2018 at the age of 94. She was a woman of deep faith so it is very appropriate that her next chapter began on Easter Sunday. Her wonderful sense of humor would have had something to say about passing on April Fool's Day. She died calmly and serenely in Chico after a brief illness. Mary was born on February 15, 1924 in Detroit Michigan to Christian and Emma Lehman. She was part of a very large and close clan of German relatives centered around Ann Arbor. After High School she worked at the Auto Club of Michigan and met John Dusenbury; they were married 4 months later on November 15, 1943. They soon relocated to Southern California. Their daughter, Carolyn, was born in 1947. Well into her 80's, Mary had abundant energy. She was known for her distinctive laugh, worker-bee attitude and boundless optimism. She was dedicated to serving every community she lived in and had a long and impressive list of volunteer accomplishments. She also had a long career in retail sales and management, always mentoring young people finding their way in life. She had her share of challenges, but consistently bounced back. She loved her family, friends, laughter, gardening, her church, community service and, always, a beloved dog. Mary is survived by daughter Carolyn and nieces and nephews in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida and Michigan. John passed away in 1998 in Port Hueneme and Mary then moved to and loved living in Chico for the rest of her life. At Mary's request, there will be no formal service or memorial. We will remember her on at an Open House on Thursday, April 19 from 3:30 to 5:30 at Roots Catering, 3221 Esplanade. If you would like to remember Mary with a donation, Christian Education at Bidwell Presbyterian Church and the Butte Humane Society were her chosen organizations. The family thanks the village that came together to support Carolyn and Mary during her brief illness. Thanks also to the Enloe Infusion Center where Mary was a patient and volunteer for 14 years. She will be buried with her husband and family at Bethlehem Cemetery in Ann Arbor, Michigan where five generations of Lehman's are interred. To send condolences and view obituary online go to NewtonBracewell.com.