Dolores E. Towner ‘Jackie’
May 11, 1934 - March 12, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009 12:10 AM PDT
Nyssa
Dolores E. (Jackie) Towner, of Nyssa, Ore., went to be with her Lord on Thursday, March 12, 2009. She died at home surrounded by her children after a short battle with cancer. A Rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2009, at St Bridget’s Catholic Church, 504 Locust Ave., Nyssa, Ore. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2009, also at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church.
Jackie was born May 11, 1934, in Wexford, Penn., to Leonard and Marie Jacklett. Her early days were spent in Pennsylvania, and she moved to California with her family as a young girl. She had one brother and three sisters whom she dearly loved. She graduated from Monrovia-Duarte High School in California and earned her beauty operator license after completing the cosmetology course at Pasadena City College.
While attending college, she met a handsome young man, Norm Towner, who was a member of the Air Force police. After a very short engagement, they were married on Sept. 12, 1953, in Camarillo, Calif.
Jackie and Norm spent their early years together in Grandview, Idaho. It was quite a culture shock for a city girl to move to the country and live in a house without indoor facilities. They had their first two children, Lynda and Mike, and then returned to California. While in California, they had two more sons, Jeff and Eric.
Jackie was always involved in the lives of her children. When they were young, she led Bluebirds and Campfire Girls for her daughter and was the den mother of her sons’ Cub Scout Troop. The pull of country life brought the family back to the Treasure Valley where they settled in the Ontario/Nyssa area for their remaining years.
Beyond her busy family life, Jackie also worked outside of the home. She retired from Holy Rosary Hospital as the dietetic assistant, after 25 years of service.
Jackie loved all of God’s creation. Working in her yard and garden brought her peace, and watching birds and wildlife from her window gave her joy. She had the gift of making things grow, and her garden was lovely. Her yard was radiant during the spring and summer as her iris and roses bloomed.
She treasured time with her family and friends: “boonie beating” in the Owyhee desert, camping and traveling, playing bridge and being part of an investment club. Her lifelong project was researching the genealogy of the family. Part of her work was published in hardcover as “A Genealogy of the Towner Family” in 1990.
Jackie was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Towner; her brother, Joe Jacklett; her sister, Jolly Brown.
She is survived by her sisters, Ann LeTellier and Genny Plaunty; her daughter and son-in-law, Lynda and Tom Merry; her son, Mike Towner; her son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Marcy Towner; her son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Noa Towner. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Nikki, Michael, Carrie, Dana, Nathaniel, Wyatt, Logan and Mja; and three great-grandchildren, Madison, Makenna and Kyliee.
In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest donations to St Bridget’s Altar Society, 504 Locust Ave., Nyssa, Ore.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lienkaemper-thomason.com.
