Mary Lou Davanzo

Mary Lou Davanzo, 86, passed peacefully in to the presence of the Lord on Friday evening, January 3, 2020 in Visalia, California. She had been a resident of Westgate Gardens Care Center for the past year. She was born Mary Lou Cann in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 14, 1933 and was the youngest of 5 children born to Howard Raymond Cann and Loraine Virginia (Moore) Cann. The Oklahoma Dustbowl era was in full swing and the family began looking for a better life in California. They made the move in 1938 to the Los Angeles area. Mary's parents were divorced in 1940 and a year later Mom Loraine found a really good man. Henry Z. Beard was a widower with 4 children. They were married in 1941 and made a family with 9 children. Known as Mom & Pop Beard, they became Farm Managers of large farms in California and Oregon over the next 14 years. Mary graduated from High School in Rainer, Oregon in 1952, and married classmate Dale T. Docken on July 11, 1952. They had two sons, Dale Henry Docken was born in 1953 and Ricky Dan Docken followed in 1955. When Ricky was two weeks old, and following her parents, they moved to Anaheim, California. Mary enjoyed making her house and home and was a loving and caring mother to her two young sons. In 1967, the family moved to Grants Pass, Oregon - looking for a more rural setting after 12 years in Anaheim. Grants Pass was life changing for the Docken family. We found the perfect spot about 7 miles southwest of Grants Pass in the Jerome Prairie area. Our place that consisted of 10 acres, a two story ranch house, garage, barn and a chicken house. Raising cattle and a couple of horses along with chickens, five apple trees and a large garden was a great experience for all of us. It was there that Mary was led in prayer by her neighbor friend Elda Drebert and re-dedicated her life to the Lord. A little later, Elda saw Mary's interest and potential in her to start oil painting �. and that she did. Mary started out painting floral pictures, and progressed to country and landscape and scenery paintings. Mary & Dale divorced in 1971, and Mary and her sons returned to California in 1973. This time it was Visalia, where Mom & Pop Beard and other family members had lived, some first moving to Visalia in 1957. Mary continued oil painting, and began teaching oil painting classes, of which one of her students was her very own mother! She also attended church regularly with her mother and son Dale at First Assembly of God, sitting under the ministry of Rev. Harvey Mitchell and Rev. Ernest Kumpe. Another few years went by and Mary became interested in Social Work, so she began attending classes at Fresno State University, and earned her Bachelor's degree in 1983. She also loved a new man in her life, Alan Davanzo, and married him in Carson City, Nevada on June 29, 1983. They moved from Visalia to Sonora, California in 1987. For the next 28 years, they enjoyed the small town and foothill atmosphere including the rural towns of Jamestown, Twain Harte, Columbia State Park and Murphys until July of 2015, when Alan passed away from cancer. Mary enjoyed the good church services at the local Country Cowboy Church. At the urging of her two sons, Mary moved back to Visalia a month later, where she lived in her apartment until she had a bad fall a year ago, had a hospital stay, rehabilitation at Westgate, which became her last residence. She has now received her eternal reward. We are sad, but glad. Mary is survived by her two sons, Dale H. (Kim) Docken of San Diego, Rick (Delia) Docken of Visalia, two brothers, George (Grayce) Cann of Santa Maria and Donald (Doreen) Cann of Medford, Oregon; 4 Grandchildren, Susie (Paul) Dougherty, David (Michelle) Docken, Cristy (Ben) England and Allison (Kalvin) Calhoun; 7 great-grandchildren, Nathan Morse, Robert Hernandez, Christian Baldiviez, Matthew Pillai, Jaedyn Calhoun, Karly Calhoun and Layton Calhoun; and a few cousins, and many nieces and nephews. Other than her parents, Mary is pre-deceased by her husband of 32 years, Alan Davanzo; sister, Virginia Miner, brother Raymond Cann and 4 step-siblings who were more like real brothers and sisters - Ed Beard, Glen Beard, Lola Fry and Raymond Beard and one great-grandson, Tyler Morse. The family is grateful and wishes to thank the many nurses, therapists (notably Jami Ayers) and staff at Westgate Gardens Care Center, who cared for Mary so much this past year. Interment will be graveside services next to her husband at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella later this Spring.

Mary Lou Davanzo

July 14, 1933 - January 3, 2020