JENNINGS - DAVIS, Dorothy Elton (Happy)

Dorothy Elton "Happy" Jennings-Davis died May 28 after a brief illness. She died surrounded by love. Happy was born Aug. 27, 1919 in Warm Springs, California and spent her childhood at Hacienda de Oquitoa, her parents' ranch in Sonora, Mexico. Happy's family will always cherish her vivid tales of life on the ranch. She graduated from Nogales High School and attended the University of Arizona. On April 21, 1940, she married Duncan Tallmadge Jennings, who she met while working at a dude ranch in northern Arizona. Happy and Duncan lived in southern California until the late 1940s. They then returned to Arizona, settling in Phoenix, where Duncan launched his advertising agency and Happy launched her life filled with family, friends and community activity. In addition to raising five children (serving as back-up mom to many others), and supporting Duncan's career, Happy spent some of her incredible energy contributing to her community. She served on the Osborn Board of Trustees for 14 years and volunteered with St. Luke's Hospital and Reading for the Blind. A gifted seamstress and milliner, she put her talent to good use with the Phoenix Musical Theatre Guild. Happy was a member of Rotary Anns, the Phoenix Symphony Guild, and the Altar Guilds at Trinity Cathedral and All Saints Episcopal Church. Happy and Duncan were longtime members of the Phoenix Country Club, where they figured large on the dance floor and the golf course. She was also an avid bridge player who rarely missed the weekly game with friends. She is survived by her children Tallmadge Poole (Roger) Brown, Felice Cutting Jennings, Christopher Duncan (Karen) Jennings, Dorothy Inez "Drez" Jennings (Mark Wainwright), and R.C Jennings (Natalie Stout); six grandchildren, Tallmadge Pemberton (Mark) Maxwell, Roger Duncan Brown, Raymond Christopher Cutting Jennings, John Tallmadge Jennings, John Duncan Wainwright and Constance Elton Wainwright, her extended family and her innumerable friends from all walks of life. She was preceded in death by Duncan in August 1981, and George Clune Davis in January 2007; her sisters Ann Salisbury, Georgiana Ray and Patty Lou; and her parents Leroy and Dorothy Elton Cutting. Happy will be remembered with love for her energy, generosity and flair. She truly captured the art of life. Services were at All Saints Episcopal Church, 6300 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 3800 N. Central Ave., Suite 700, Phoenix, AZ, 85012, the American Red Cross, 6135 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix, AZ, 85015 or to a charity of your choice. Published in The Arizona Republic from 6/1/2007 - 6/7/2007.