Una Elizabeth Davis Obituary (1909 - 2008)

Our loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother Una Davis passed away peacefully on April 1, 2008. Una was born Sept 26, 1909 in Long Beach California to Raymond O. Hanson, and Hilda Beavis Hanson. Una grew up in San Francisco where her father served as one of the first executives of the Boy Scouts of America. One of her fondest memories of her days in San Francisco was watching construction of the Golden Gate Bridge from her bedroom window. Una attended the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco Law School during the Great Depression and worked as a legal secretary for the California Supreme Court. There, she met and later married a young up and coming attorney named Wendell H. Davis who was serving as a law clerk for the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. They raised a beautiful daughter Doria Jean Davis (Ohlson) who preceded them in death on Sept. 16, 1988. Una and Wendell moved to Los Angeles to establish Wendell’s legal practice. Una assisted him in running his practice while working from home to raise their daughter. When her daughter Doria left home to college, Una fished her education at Los Angeles State University by completing a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Journalism. Una worked as a “stringer” for the Monterey Park Progress newspaper in Monterey Park California where she wrote travel articles. Una and Wendell traveled the world visiting virtually every country in every continent. As both were Track and Field fans, they attended every summer Olympics from 1960 to 1992. They were also avid horse racing fans and enjoyed placing two dollar bets on horses running at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. Una was an animal lover who rescued multiple homeless strays. Her greatest pleasures were their trips to Africa to visit the animal preserves. Una loved people and volunteered countless hours in assisting the elderly. For many years she delivered “Meals on Wheels” to “old people”, many of whom were younger than she. Una was an accomplished swimmer who swan thousands of yards per week at her home pool and at the Industrial Hills swimming facility. She loved gardening, particularly tending her roses. She was an excellent seamstress and made most of her clothing and many items for her grandchildren. Una is survived by her three grandchildren: Kristin (Brad), Derik (Kimberly) and Karin (Phil); seven great grandchildren and her son-in-law Conrad. Her husband preceded her in 2002. Our family would like to thank the staff at the Wentworth and Stratford in Draper Utah for their loving care and genuine kindness that they shared with Una. We would like to extend a special thank you to Ray. We also wish to thank Cori and the Vista Care Hospice staff who assisted Una to the end. Instead of a formal service, the family will be gathering privately to share fond memories of Una at the home of Kristin Peercy. We ask those of you who would like to honor Una’s memory do so by taking a moment to appreciate your life and to follow your dreams.