Loraine Reiko Davis' Obituary
Loraine Reiko Wasano Davis
October 30, 1931 to May 31, 2023
Born 1931 in Honolulu Hawaii and raised in Lihue, Kauai.
Our mom, Loraine Reiko Davis was born in 1931 in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii before it became the 50th state. She grew up in Lihue, Kauai where she loved to swim, shoot marbles, jump rope, and steal sugar cane with her oldest sister, Doris, and four brothers, Stan, Lincoln, Edwin and Alvin. They attended many community “hukilau” (A hukilau is a way of fishing invented by the Ancient Hawaiians. The word comes from huki, meaning pull, and lau, meaning leaves. A large number of people, usually family and friends, would work together in casting the net from shore and then pulling it back,) She told us that everyone that helped got at least one fish off the net.
They moved to Honolulu and our grandmother remarried and had three children, Joann, Ethel and John. Mom would tell us how she took care of them and they all looked up to her in later years as their favorite sister!
It was in Honolulu that mom met, and married Gerry Pennington in 1950, and began her adventure that would take her to the mainland. They travelled after arriving in San Francisco to Oklahoma, Montana, Texas, Massachusetts, Indiana and then back to California by 1960.
In 1978 mom met the “love of her life” William Davis. In 1990 retired together to Fallon, NV. After William passed away in 2005 mom continued to live in Fallon until 2015 when she moved to Valley Center, CA with her #1 kid, Laurie.
During her lifetime she enjoyed fishing, travelling in her 5th wheel, Moonlight Theatre performances, attending her great-grandsons’ ball games and performances, watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. It was in 2015 that she and Laurie travelled to a live taping of Jeopardy and mom got to meet and talk with Alec Trebek. She also loved doing her daily newspaper crossword puzzles and her Wednesday hair appointments with Kim. Mom also loved her pets from the dog – PeeWee and rats – Choo-Choo and Goofus; and her cats – Puss-Puss, Fuzzy and Bubba that she referred to as her “live in male companion.”
In 1987 Mom travelled to Massachusetts for #3 daughter, Charlene’s (aka Poopie) College graduation from Rhode Island School of Design with a crate of strawberries on her lap because Charlene asked for some California strawberries as her graduation present! Mom later flew back in 2002 for Charlene’s’ marriage to Christian (aka Cuddles.) Later mom would declare that she loved Christian even more than Poopie. That’s our mom!
In 2016 we (her daughters) took her on a Princess Cruise to Alaska – that stopped at the ports of Skagway, Ketchikan, Juneau, Glacier Bay and Victoria, BC. She loved the concept of cruising, meeting new people, seeing shows, having so much seafood and relaxing and seeing the 49th state that she talked about seeing someday!
In 2018 for the 1st time since 1943 mom returned to Kauai with her #2 daughter, Loretta, her granddaughter, Farah Desai and great grandson Christopher. She got to see parts of the island she’d never seen before since they didn’t have a car growing up. Mom was also able to spend time with her cousin, Ann and met her niece for the very first time.
During her working years mom was a Licensed Vocational Nurse, Quality Control for Siliconix and then a Logistics Analyst for Ford Aerospace. She inspired us when she went back to school in her 40’s and got her Associates Degree from DeAnza College. She raised us three girls sometimes as a single mom, but we always had food on the table and knew we were loved!
Those who knew and spent time with mom knew about her quick wit and sometimes inappropriate jokes and 4 letter words, nothing like you’d expect from such a sweet lady, but that’s what made our mom “mom”. Now us girls carry on a piece of that humor and sharp wit forever more!
We’re glad that we were able to have mom at home and to be cared for in her final week by the terrific team of nurses at TopKare Hospice. Mom entered heaven quietly in her sleep on May 31st with her three girls at her side. While we mourn moms passing, we know that she’s at peace, free of the pain that rheumatoid arthritis and scoliosis put her through. Now we picture her standing tall, walking without a cane or walker and watching over us forever and always!
To all her friends and family, thank you for loving our mom and keeping her and all of us in your prayers. We love you all,
She’s survived by her Daughters - Laurie Pennington of Valley Center, CA; Loretta Dyer of Sunnyvale, CA and Charlene Dailey and Son-in-Law Christian Dailey of Warwick, Rhode Island and her Sister, Joann Souza of Texas.
Grandchildren - Rasik Desai, Farah Desai, and Jordan Dyer and Leilani Anderson, and her Husband Hermann Rojas
Great-grandsons – Christopher Desai, Franco Anderson, and Cazador Anderson
Preceded in death by Husband - William Davis in 2005 and her other 8 siblings and parents who were waiting for her arrival in heaven.
Private Service will be in Lihue, Kauai July 2023.
What’s your fondest memory of Loraine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Loraine?
Share a story where Loraine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Loraine you’ll never forget.
How did Loraine make you smile?