Obituary: Mary E. Dow

Mary E. Dow

LIVERMORE – Mary E. Dow, 84, of Livermore, passed from this life to Heaven on Sept. 7, 2021, while on a trip with her husband of 62 years, visiting their oldest two children and their families in Virginia and Indiana. Mary is now free from pain and sadness and full of joy in Jesus’ presence, her tender Shepherd and Savior.

Mary was born in W. Oneonta, N.Y. on May 1, 1937, to J. Arthur Graydon and Ethel M. (Hennings) and was raised mostly in rural Ohio as a pastor’s daughter. She was the oldest of seven children and mother of five. She attended Bryan College in Tennessee, studying French, and met her husband Lester S. Dow Jr. there. They graduated together and were married June 13, 1959, in Cleveland, Ohio, and were blessed to be married for 62 years.

Over the years, Mary taught school in Wheaton, Ill., Livermore Falls, Lisbon, Fayette, and Wilton, Maine, and substituted in Lewiston and Auburn schools, while Les pastored churches in Maine and Massachusetts. This past spring, Les retired after pastoring for 18 years in Richmond, and they moved back to Livermore, enjoying their summer together.

Mary was known for her lovely singing voice, harmonious duets with Lester, and their acapella family singing group “The Dow Family Singers.” She was warm-hearted, caring, and compassionate, always seeking to encourage people who were sad and hurting and pointing them to know her Savior who could help to ease their hurts. She loved and was so proud of each of her five children, their spouses, her 13 grandchildren, their spouses, and ten great-grandchildren, and was very happy to meet the newest great-grands on this trip. Her legacy lives on through her dear family and friends, who loved her and learned much from her. We rejoice to know that each one who knows the Savior will see her again in Heaven. John 3:16 & 17

Mary was predeceased by her baby sister Priscilla Graydon; her mother Ethel Graydon, her father J. Arthur Graydon; brother John Graydon, sister Sarah Douglas, and brothers-in-law, Carrol Dow, Donald Kamb, and Sterling Hinkley; and Lester and Mary’s cousin Dorothy Soule.

Mary leaves her husband Lester S. Dow Jr. of Livermore; five children, Mark Benjamin Dow (Ginny) of Lynchburg, Va., Suzanne Marie Maxwell (Jim) of Hammond, Ind., Joanna Ruth Said (Matthew) of Livermore, Esther Joy Newendyke (Cory) of Litchfield, and Daniel Lester Dow (Wendy) of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; siblings, David B. Graydon (Dolly), Jim Graydon (Dianne), Martha Kamb Rhodes (Billy), sisters-in-law, Rose Hinkley, Marcia Dow and Linda Walker Dow; 13 grandchildren, Michelle Menendez (Brian), Stephen Dow (Rachel), Scott Dow(Bridget), David Dow, Kyle Dow (Nicole), Mark Maxwell, Sharon Maxwell, Jerry Said (Kirsten), Benaiah Said (Shannon), Jennifer Newendyke, Jessica Newendyke, Chloe Dow, and Jedidiah Dow; and ten great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Liam Dow, Kenzie and Declan Dow, Ezra Said, Nala Dow, and Favor, Frank, Frederick and Fedora; and many beloved cousins around the US and Canada.

A service to celebrate Mary’s life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at 11 a.m. at Wayside Bible Baptist Church in Livermore with a luncheon to follow. All are welcome.

Donations may be made in memory of Mary E. Dow to:

Bryan College

721 Bryan Dr.

Dayton, TN 37321 or:

Friends of Israel

Gospel Ministry

PO Box 908

Bellmawr, NJ 08099 or:

One for Israel

1300 Glade Rd.

Colleyville, TX 76034 or:

Christian Civic League