Juanita Lavonne Rush

Born in Bozeman, Montana, on October 6, 1930, in the midst of the Great Depression, she was the youngest of four children born to Ethel (Todd) and Paul Davis, following siblings Bill, Bob, and Pauline. From a young age, LaVonne developed a strong work ethic, helping to keep the family’s Hotel Davis afloat. In school, she played basketball and made lifelong friends who shared her love for travel and adventure. Her gift for making friends wherever she went and her open-hearted hospitality would become lifelong hallmarks.

LaVonne graduated from high school as an honor student. She met her first husband, Harley Dirks, at a dance before marrying and moving to Othello, Washington. There, she made a home in a Quonset hut, running the family farm homestead and raising six children “on a shoestring.” Despite the challenges of the era, she worked tirelessly to keep her beloved kids safe and well-nourished.

The family later moved to Maryland in the pre-Civil Rights era. Having never encountered segregation firsthand, LaVonne was stunned by the “whites only” signs at their local beach and became even more determined to instill in her children a set of inclusive, loving values. In Turkey Point, Maryland, she patched clothes, tended to scraped knees from countless (at times ill-advised) adventures, and taught her children to drive—with both white knuckles and humor. As her teenagers became young adults, her first marriage ended. She re entered the workforce and became a cherished colleague at both Sears Roebuck and Gallaudet University.

In 1974, at a party, LaVonne met her second husband, Naval Captain Charles W. Rush, Jr., of Greensboro, Alabama. They married two years later. Together, they built a life in South Florida, constructing a ranch home with a pool and planning for a retirement filled with sailing throughout the Caribbean. They planted citrus trees, threw lively poolside cocktail parties, and welcomed grandchildren Danielle and Nicolette into their home as their own.

With a deep love for adventure, LaVonne and Charlie sailed their Heritage West Indies 46, Windward Star, through the Abacos, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and as far south as Venezuela. LaVonne’s ability to source local ingredients, befriend strangers, and prepare multi-course meals—including the day’s fresh catch—in a sailboat galley was nothing short of magical. She made friends around the world, often joking that she was adopting crew members and family friends as honorary children. She traveled extensively through Europe and frequently visited her sailing companions—always returning with luxury hotel toiletries to stock her guest room for her own international parade of guests.

At home, LaVonne relished hosting, whether it was a quick crudités and relish tray for neighbors or a full spread for a submariner reunion. It was rare to leave her house without homemade cookies for the road. She created a home rich in friendship through love and abundance, even in thrift. Long before it became trendy, LaVonne sprouted avocado seeds into full trees, reused bread bags and yogurt containers, and dutifully saved every scrap of tinfoil and wrapping paper. We all think of you, Gramma, when deciding what to toss or keep—and wince a little, imagining your disapproval when we don’t save something you definitely had a drawer full of.

In later years, during her decade as a “single babe” after Charlie’s passing, she enjoyed swimming, reading, and “resting her eyes” (but never napping). She cheered at her grandson’s Little League games and never missed a Marlins or basketball game on TV. At 6 PM sharp, she’d offer you her daily screwdriver (orange juice, vodka, lots of ice) or a salty dog—best served with pink grapefruits from her yard. She was proud to say, like her mother before her, that she was a staunch Democrat. LaVonne believed in progressive causes, led with kindness, and always sought to bring people together.

She deeply loved her children: Tim Dirks (Kerry Delaney), Darcy Kimmel (Tim), Marcine Stone (Robert Thomas and Larry), James Dirks (Tess), David Dirks (Pam), and Dale Dirks (Debbie). She was proud of the adults they became. From the daily "meals on wheels" they brought her to their frequent phone calls, she remained closely connected to each of them throughout her life. She showered her 17 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren (and beloved grand- and great-grand-dogs) with love. She delighted in holding babies and celebrating each new family member, proudly placing their photos on her kitchen pantry door “hall of fame.” She cherished her extended family in Montana and California and was always eager to bring everyone together. She was also deeply grateful for the compassionate, expert care of her longtime caregiver, Edna, who treated LaVonne as her own mother, and her hospice caregiver, Karlene.

We will miss sharing our memories with you, LaVonne, and promise to stay connected. We love you immensely and will forever be grateful for the lessons and values you instilled in us. While you had hoped to live longer than your mother’s 101 years, you faced a hip fracture and your final chapter with courage and grace. We promise to “keep moving and eat our vegetables”—just as you always told us—knowing that’s what kept you going strong for 94 years.

Per LaVonne’s request, her ashes will be spread in Bozeman, Montana, and the Chesapeake Bay, and also interred alongside her husband at the U.S. Naval Academy Columbarium in Annapolis, Maryland. Details for her Maryland memorial will be shared soon. We invite everyone who knew and loved her to raise a toast in her honor—with a freshly squeezed screwdriver, just the way she liked it.