Remembering the life and legacy of Mary Louise Davis

WASILLA — When Mary Louise Davis died in November of 2020, she left behind a thriving business and lasting legacy of creativity, kindness, and an immortal heartbeat directed at the community she raised her family in.

Flowers By Louise is the longest running, singly owned floral shop in the state, and it’s among the most influential establishments in the Valley’s history, touching many lives and inspiring others to embark on their own ventures.

Louise’s daughters Carla Davis, Jeri Davis, and Denise Holliday reflected on their cherished memories and the lessons they learned from their mother’s life.

“I think of her creativity… She was extremely creative in every area, with food with flowers, with just her life,” Denise said. “She was just an amazing woman all around, I feel.”

Louise drove up to Alaska from Idaho when she was 18 years old, chasing a sudden opportunity and chance for adventure.

“She was adventurous. She was really adventurous,” Jeri said with a laugh.

Denise said their mother shared her love for adventures with her family. She said that growing up, the family regularly travelled across the state and Lower 48. She said they frequently embarked on hiking and fishing trips at places like Chilkoot Trail, fostering a passion for nature and family outings.

“Those were the best memories. We just had the best adventures,” Denise said.

Louise’s creative mind and her adventurous spirit ultimately led her to opening her first floral shop out of her garage in downtown Palmer in 1973.

“So she was adventurous that way. She had extremely good taste, because what she brought in sold,” Denise said.

Flowers by Louise eventually moved to the old Doughnut Hut Mall and Palmer Moose Lodge, and expanded to Wasilla at the Meta Rose Center. Carla said that the Palmer Moose and Meta Rose locations are the main locations locals think of. The Palmer and Museum locations ran at the same time until 2014, when Louise decided to shut down the Palmer shop.

The shop currently resides off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, just outside downtown Wasilla. Carla said there are currently eight or nine employees, and they hire extra hands during high volume holidays. She said that her mother’s eye for detail and resolve to only sell the best product available echoes to this day, as they prepare for Valentine’s Day, one of the busiest times of the year.

“I still teach the way she taught. I tell the employees this is the way Louise did it. I tell them that to this day... She never cut corners,” Carla said.

Denise credited her mother as one of the most predominant business owners as well as the top influential women to work in the Valley.

“She was an incredible business woman... Just seeing her be involved in the community. I just think that’s incredible,” Carla said.

After running Flowers by Louise for almost five decades, the accomplishment Louise was most proud of was providing job opportunities to countless locals. Carla noted that several of these employees went on to start their own floral businesses. She said that most of the floral shops around the Valley are run by former employees.

Denise said this reflects her mother’s unwavering sense of generosity and community mindedness. She said that she was known for supporting her employees with Christmas gifts and a holiday party every year; and she regularly donated funds to local charities and sport teams.

“I can honestly tell you Flowers by Louise has saved women’s lives… I have friends who’ve told me it saved their lives, just being around my mother in the shop and around positive women… When you’re working with flowers it’s hard to be mad because flowers are beautiful,” Denise said.

All three of Louise’s daughters have been involved with her floral shops off and on over the years. Louise taught her children vital work skills; and she instilled a profound adoration and respect for flowers as an artform, teaching them what these colorful plants mean to people. Carla said she never grows tired of roses, even during Valentine’s Day.

“I’ve always had a love for flowers my whole life. I like most every flower there is... Because they’re so incredibly therapeutic… You’re involved with art,” Carla said.

Various members of the community made their way through the Flowers By Louise parking lot to pay their respects during a drive by memorial in January. Several of Louise’s family members handed out roses in her name.

Denise recalled what her mother taught her about flowers. She said that people and flowers are inexorably bound together. She said that flowers are tied to most of life’s major events.

“My mom said that’s why the flower industry will always thrive, because of weddings and funerals… ‘If it’s done right, it has flowers, good food and flowers,’” Denise said with a laugh.

Louise died peacefully in her home at the age of 87 on November 25, 2020. Jeri said that she died how she lived, kindly and gracefully.

“To the very end, she wasn’t a bitter or resentful woman. She was thankful to the very last minute,” Jeri said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com