DAVIS, Melvin Ball

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Thursday, April 24, 2003 Melvin Ball Davis died peacefully April 17 at his home in Walnut Creek, Calif. Born June 21, 1914, in Austin, Colorado, Mel was the youngest of 5 children. His family later lived in the Pacific Northwest before moving to Arizona. As a young man in Tucson, Mel married Alice Bird. From 1935 to 1940 they lived in a tent house in the old mining camp of Ruby, Arizona, now a ghost town. While working in the Montana Mine, his three children Alleyne, Gary, and Barbara were born. After 1940 Mel worked for Mountain Bell in several Arizona cities. He retired from the Telephone Company in Denver, Colorado, as Division Plant Superintendent. Much too energetic to stop working, Mel bought a travel agency back in Tucson. In 1975 he married Lou Nourse Scanlon, and together they traveled throughout the world as tour guides. After this venture, Mel and Lou lived for several years in the mountains of Pinetop, Ariz., where Mel built and sold several houses at the Pine Lakes Country Club. Mel and Lou loved the mountains, but in 1987 they moved to Rossmoor in Walnut Creek to be close to Lou's three children. For the last 15 years of his life, Mel was an enthusiastic golfer, active in the Rossmoor Shrine Club, and devoted to his family and friends. One of his favorite activities was helping out at the Rossmoor Medical Center, delivering and maintaining home health equipment. He is remembered as a caring and affectionate man, with a great sense of humor and tireless dedication to helping others. Mel is survived by his son, Gary of Cave Creek, Ariz., his sister Janice McCurnin of Tucson, Ariz., 9 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, 2 stepdaughters, Peggy Cabaniss of Moraga, Calif., and Becky Needham of Midland, Tex., a stepson, Taylor Scanlon of Los Altos, Calif., and 6 step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughters Alleyne and Barbara and by his wife Lou. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 26, 2:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Dr. in Lafayette, California. Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817 or Sutter VNA & Hospice, 1900 Bates Ave., Ste. A, Concord, CA 94520. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.