Obituary of Dorothy Gow

GOW: Dorothy. It is with many positive reflections and memories that the family of Dorothy Gow informs you that she has gone on to join her husband, Everritt. Keeping her word she made him wait 14 years for her appearance. She had more living to do!!! Dorothy was the eldest child of William and Louisa Hughson of Blenheim, and wife of the late Everritt Gow(1994). Sister of the late Garnet Hughson, Leala Neilson Shaw and Alvin Hughson. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Clayt Shaw of Chatham. At 80 she bought a brand new car. At 83, she packed her belongings into the back of family pick up trucks and moved from Ridgetown to Chatham. At 85, she never missed a beat as she drove her car to Tobermory, so her son-in-law, John Reid had a ride home. At 88, she hauled out her sewing machine and rectified and completed a quilt Helen had tried to assemble from blocks Dorothy had made. For 26 years, spring, summer and fall, she shared driving the Mull (later R.R.# 7 Blenheim) mail route with Everritt. It was not unusual for her to deliver a loaf of bread along with the mail or drive up the laneway to deliver a parcel or even a passenger. In the winter, we came home to shiny waxed floors, sometimes covered with newspaper, and smells of homemade bread and cinnamon buns. She lived through the depression and lived her life not wasting anything, from milk and cereal bags to tinfoil dishes. She was one of the very first recyclers. Mom could make a dollar stretch a long way. We will miss her quick wit and sharp answers, even in these past years when something made up worked just fine. Dorothy was a great friend making new ones wherever she went, and mourning their loss. She was knitter, crocheter, quilter, seamstress, and tatter extraordinaire. Family homes and even boats display her handy work. She will be remembered lovingly by her daughters Marjorie McBrien (late husband Tom), Thamesville, Helen and Norman Meneray, Owen Sound, Janet and John Reid, Espanola, and Doreen Cameron, Blenheim. As a family, we are so grateful to Doreen who these past years watched over mom with such care, including making certain she arrived at family dues, early. She enjoyed her 7 granddaughters: Mary Margaret and Bill McDonald, Thamesville, Lori and Ray Ralph, Oakville, Karen and Tom Seliga Ridgetown, Leanne and Ron Sullivan, Blenheim, Cathy and Marc Lepine, Espanola, Carol Sue Meneray, Owen Sound, and Jennifer-Anne Meneray, London, and their children, her 14 great grandchildren. These last few years, Mom would be reflecting about what was, and would often finish by saying, ‘But life goes on…'. So for us, life will go on without her, but we will always know how fortunate we were to have parents who loved each other and loved us. Life does go on mom, and ours will go on with happy memories and thanksgiving in our hearts whenever we think of you. Family will receive friends at the McKinlay Funeral Home "Ford Chapel", 141 Park Street, Blenheim on Tuesday from 2:00-4:30 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at the Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. with Elder Nancy Melnyk of Community of Christ officiating. Cremation with interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim. Donations to the Arthritis Society or Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance "MRI Fund" would be appreciated. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com. McKinlay Funeral Home "Ford Chapel", 141 Park Street, Blenheim, Ontario (519)676-3451.