Mary Lund Davis of Rancho Mirage, Calif., passed away on June 13, 2008, in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She was born Feb. 13, 1922, to Niels Hansen Lund and Frieda Lund in Sacramento, Calif.
Mary's father was a builder in Sacramento. She loved to help her father design houses. Her father taught Mary how to sail. She frequently sailed with her father and two brothers. She went on to win the Adams Cup sailboat race in Chicago in 1960. Mary enjoyed racing with her daughter Gail on Lake Washington, Wash., and cruising the San Juan Islands every summer with her family. Mary's father always told her "a woman could do anything a man can do." These words gave Mary the courage to enter the University of Washington School of Architecture as the only woman student. She entered Architecture School in 1942. By the time she graduated, she was not only the only woman in her class, but the only student, as all the men had gone off to war. Mary practiced architecture for 30 years.
While at the University of Washington, Mary met George L. Davis Jr. After a long courtship of seven years, Mary and George were married on May 28, 1950. Mary was preceded in death by her husband in 1995. Mary and George maintained a home in Sun Valley for 35 years.
Mary's activities include being a member of the Tacoma Garden Club; she was on the board of the Pilchuck Glass School, an Emeritus Trustee of the Tacoma Art Museum and a member of the Aloha club.
Mary is survived by her two daughters, Katharine Granum and Gail Stickney, who were both visiting Mary when she passed. She is also survived by her son in laws Douglas Granum and Lon Stickney, four grandchildren, Kya Granum, Nevis Granum, Rocket Stickney and Claire Stickney, her brother Peter Andrew Lund and her loyal dog Josh.
A memorial service will be held at Mary's home in Gig Harbor, Wash., on July 13 at 4 p.m. Please RSVP to Katharine Granum at kitgranum@usa.net.
