WILMINGTON — Yvonne passed peacefully from this life to her heavenly home on the evening of March 24, Palm Sunday.
She was reunited with her parents, Spurgeon and Helen Dowless and other family members. Born April 19, Yvonne was the epitome of a caregiver throughout her life. As an only child, she grew quite close to both her parents, extended family, and her group of friends she met in school, who continue to this day to care for one another so well. Yvonne went to Wilmington College with some of these friends and became a registered nurse, continuing to care for those in need through her work.
Later she married David, and they raised three children together, whom she mothered well into their adulthood. She helped her children see the positive side of life, to seek out joy, and to hold onto others when life became unsteady. Yvonne was a reserved, mostly quiet person who often did her work behind the scenes and with a truly humble spirit.
Yvonne lived a life of service and felt it was important to offer what one has to assist others. She volunteered in schools by proctoring tests or chaperoning field trips. She made meals for youth group gatherings and encouraged UMYF activities. She was an active member of Pine Valley United Methodist Church choir, United Methodist Women circles, the Koinonia SS class, and, most recently, a member of Wrightsville United Methodist Church. Yvonne was a woman of deep faith, participating in bible studies and seeking meaning in scriptures for her life and the lives of those she loved. Yvonne loved being part of her service sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, and sharing community service with her friends and sisters in Christ.
Yvonne became a Memaw in 2001 with the birth of Olivia, soon followed by Lindsay. She began to travel to Hayesville and Raleigh to see them as much as she could! Two more, Emmy and Will, joined the group and now Memaw was really having all the fun she could stand. A few years later, Everett and Hannah May arrived and completed her group of six fun playmates, a-hem, grandchildren. Memaw and G-daddy hosted them during school breaks and summers at the beach. Camp Memaw was cooked up by Yvonne and was full of all the grands’ favorite snacks, homemade cookies, boat rides, surfing and dollar store shopping each pair of cousins could handle! She loved them through argument, illnesses, and weeklong Monopoly games. She shared the fullness of her joy with each of them.
Yvonne has gone to her heavenly home, leaving many who loved her with beautiful memories of our time here together. Her husband, David, of 54 years cherishes their time together and will continue to serve as G-Daddy to the six grands. Tara and Doug Lain, Alicia and Tyler Morris, Matthew and Amanda Culp and their children will miss her for all the big and little things that she did to show us love and made us giggle. Jeneane and Donald Tadlock, her in-laws, and their family will miss having her as a neighbor and friend.
Unfortunately, her laughter and her life were cut short by dementia and a more recent diagnosis of cancer. We have missed her laugh, we have missed her smile, and we have missed the fullness of who she was for a long time; we are grateful for the beautiful life we shared with her and thankful she is now at peace.
We will gather with friends and family on her 76th birthday, April 19, 2 p.m. at Wrightsville United Methodist Church. Please join us, dressed in your favorite spring attire, with bright colors or pastels, solids or florals. We often discussed funeral services truly as a Celebration of Life, which we will do this day, dressed for a true celebration of her life!
Memorials may be made to Wrightsville UMC (Wrightsville.org or P.O. Box 748 Wrightsville Beach, 28480), or Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Life Care (lifecare.org or 1414 Physicians Dr. Wilmington, 28401). We are grateful and send love to extended family, church friends, Linda Biddle, and hospice nurses who cared for both Yvonne and her family so well.
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