Mary Louise (Downing) Davis

Mary Louise Downing Davis peacefully passed into her eternal glory on the evening of February 2, 2022. Mary Lou was embraced by love & family. Born in Oklahoma City on June 19, 1925, she was 96 years young & is survived by her daughter, Jamie; her sister Charlene; her brother & sister-in-law Don & Sharon; nieces & nephews - Debby & Jimmy, Marca & Bob, Jim & Johanna, Ruth Ellen & Phillip, Brent, Tia, Todd, Allison & Josh, Ryan & Tausha, Terri & Skeeter, Mary & Jim, Carrie & Chip, David & Carol, Becky & Charlie; Marty & Brad, Debby & Pat, Donna & Wes, John & Andrea; all her wonderful grand & great-grand nieces & nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband John Weeks Davis; parents John David Downing & Martha Jane Franklin Downing; sister Linnie & brothers John & James; nephews John Downing & John Davis. After high school at Central High, Mary Lou went to Oklahoma State University where she studied journalism, the only female in Arts & Sciences, & pledged Zeta Tau Alpha. While working on her master's in social work at the University of Oklahoma, she met her true love, John. Mary Lou & John married & moved to Washington DC in 1951. They jitterbugged their way from DC to Phoenix a few times, settling in Phoenix where they raised their daughter. Ever the volunteer, Mary Lou helped organize the annual Goodwill antique sale. She enjoyed painting classes & being with friends & family. In 1970, Mary Lou & family moved back to DC, returning to OKC in 1974. She continued to volunteer & support her community as a docent teaching children about art at the Oklahoma Art Center; as a Zeta including helping to bring a fraternity house to OU; pow wow dancing & supporting artists at Red Earth - even competing one year; serving on the Red Cross board; president of the North American Indian Women's Association; & as a docent at the Cowboy Hall of Fame. She was an enrolled member of the Caddo Nation & served on the Heritage Museum board, participated in Culture Club & Language Preservation, & served as Tribal Council Vice-Chairwoman. She was a member of Chapel Hill Methodist Church for 41 years where she also sang in the Chancel Choir. She was #1 OSU Cowboys football fan where she held first row season tickets above the player's bench shouting plays to the coach & team. In her spare time, she enjoyed making pottery at Paseo Pottery Studio & their Thursday champagne pot luck.

2015 she moved to Annapolis to live with her daughter, Jamie, & daughter-in-law, Leisa. She loved to help in the garden & watch Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, & OSU football. Mary Lou lived an amazingly full life traveling the US and abroad.

Her life celebration is February 21, 2022 at 10 am at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 2717 W. Hefner Rd, OKC. The viewing is February 20 between 2 - 4 pm at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper, 6600 Broadway Ext, OKC. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Red Earth Art Center: https://www.redearth.org, & Metro Caddo Cultural Club c/o 1811 Shelby Court Norman OK 73071.