Dana Deane Bowles' Obituary
Dana Deane (Donalson) Bowles passed peacefully on to glory while napping in bed at her skilled nursing facility in Greenville, SC, to be with her Lord and Savior, on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at age 95.
Dana was born and raised during the depression, on a small farm near Lamar, Missouri in rural Barton County. She was the youngest of four children born to the late William Everett Donalson and Bertha Faurot Donalson on August 28, 1928.
Dana attended elementary school at the one room schoolhouse, in Star Valley. She graduated from Lamar High School third in her class in 1945. Her high school yearbook says, “She was a bookworm, but this worm has turned”. She attended business college in Kansas City, MO and moved to Seattle, WA to live with her sister Freda and family. She worked as an executive secretary for a group of traveling auditors for Bell Telephone, a position she loved. Dana was introduced to Joseph Anderson Bowles, a young widower and post WWII dental student at the University of Washington. They married on May 29, 1952. Dr. Bowles and his wife moved to Tacoma, WA to set up his dental practice after graduating in 1953. Dana worked as a dental assistant for her husband for seven years until they started their longed-for family. She enjoyed a close relationship with her in-laws, Dr. Thomas K Bowles, and Susan A Bowles, and always treasured what her father-in-law said about her, "there's no one like Dana". Dana and Joe spent almost twenty-five joyful years together until Dr. Bowles succumbed to metastatic colon cancer in 1977, regretfully leaving behind his beloved wife and four teenaged children. After raising her four children Dana remarried John (Jack) Harold McCormick and spent eighteen happy years with him until his passing in 2008. They spent many happy hours together working in the garden, playing golf, working crosswords, and traveling.
Dana loved her family dearly and was a wonderful, loving, and supportive mother helping each of her four children in different ways at different times in their lives. She also loved her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and extended family.
As a young adult Dana enjoyed taking singing lessons and figure skating. As an older adult Dana loved to walk and could often be seen walking around Wapato Lake and the neighborhood where she lived. She spent a lot of time in the garden and had many rose bushes she nurtured as well as a small vegetable garden. She had a small group of neighbor ladies who she enjoyed golfing with regularly for many years. She loved doing crossword puzzles, a passion she continued to enjoy until she was very elderly. Dana traveled abroad a number of times enjoying trips to the Holy Land, Egypt, later with her second husband to Ireland, Italy, Switzerland and later yet to England and Scotland. She had many adventures including cruising the inside passage to Ketchikan, AK with her husband Joe and their four young children and dog on a 26-foot cabin cruiser along with a flotilla of boating enthusiasts, despite being fearful of the water. She also enjoyed many short trips to the Oregon coast, Lake Chelan, WA, and other destinations. Dana had many friends and neighbors who she loved. She often shared home cooked dishes with elderly neighbors and visiting elderly friends who were shut ins.
Dana was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA. She was a regular church attender, taught Sunday school once or twice and served on the church altar guild for many
years. She also would frequently do volunteer gardening for the church, planting flowers to keep the grounds beautiful. Dana was a very committed Christian believer and loved God and her Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Dana relocated to Tucson, AZ to be near her daughter Susan in 2008 when her husband Jack passed on and worsening dementia made it unsafe for her to live alone. She resided at Amber Lights assisted living for many years and enjoyed frequent outings and adventures with her daughter Susan as well as other children when they visited.
Dana had a partner for twelve years at her assisted living, Walter Mead Godwin, who she loved like a husband. He provided much companionship to Dana and they shared many happy times until he passed in 2022. Dana and Walt accompanied daughter Susan to the Carolina's in 2021 when she moved for work. There they spent their last years.
Dana was predeceased by her parents, husband Dr. Joseph A Bowles, d. 1977, her husband John McCormick, d. 2008, Walter Godwin, d. 2022, a sister Freda (Duffy) Lenore Reagan, brother Bayne Ian Donalson, sister Beulah (Boo) Rae Estes and son in law, Mark Gerrish. Dana is survived by her four children: Thomas Bowles of Puyallup, WA, Susan (Bowles) Harrison and husband Henry of Greenville, SC, Patricia (Bowles) Gerrish of Puyallup, WA, Jeffrey Bowles and wife Karen of Casa Grande, AZ, four grandchildren: Jaime (Barnett) White of Yelm, WA, Bonita (Bowles) Rivera of Graham, WA, Anna (Bowles) Garza and husband Bobby of San Antonio, TX and Dakotah Misquez and life partner Dalia Vera of Puyallup along with, six great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
A visitation will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery at 4100 Steilacoom Blvd, SW, Lakewood, WA 98499 on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024, from 9 to 11 am. A memorial service will be held at 11 am in the Garden Chapel at the cemetery, followed by a graveside service at 1230 with reception afterwards at the cemetery for family and friends.
The family would like to thank the many care givers, nurses, physicians, and other providers who cared for Dana throughout her years with Alzheimer's. Dana was always grateful to those who helped her. Dana will be deeply missed by her family and friends. We lean heavily on Jesus' promises of salvation for those who put their trust in HIM, John 3:16, and believe that if we do we will see her again someday.
The family suggests memorials be made in Dana's name to the Alzheimer's Association https://act.alz.org or the American Cancer Societ https://donate.cancer.org > Breast-cancer
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