Sheryl Dowen

Sheryl Kay (Jackson) Dowen passed away Friday, December 28th at HopeWest Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction. Sherry was born on February 8, 1945 in Wheaton, Minnesota to Verle Ralph Jackson and Melvina Elizabeth (Cumming) Jackson. She was married to Lyle Hinrichs in Oregon in 1964 and they had 2 daughters. Sherry was a homemaker during these years. In 1979, Sherry married Wilbur (Bill) Dowen. They moved to Reno, NV and later to Laurel, MT, where Sherry worked for the school district for many years. Upon her retirement, Sherry and Bill traveled extensively across the US, often serving as camp hosts. Always friendly, outgoing, and talkative, Sherry loved this lifestyle and made many good friends along the way. Sherry was always most at home in her role as a mom and caretaker. She served as a loving and supportive “mom” or “grandma” to her family — and to countless friends and students. She was known also for her baking and candy-making – a passion made all the sweeter by the the joy it brought to others. After years of “snowbirding” and traveling, Sherry settled in Grand Junction in 2010. She took up knitting and became an active member of the American Lutheran Church family. She was a member of O.W.L.S. and helped with communion; she especially enjoyed making lefse for the annual women’s bazaar. Sherry was preceded in death by her parents and beloved husband Bill. She is survived by daughter Laura and son-in-law David(Olympia, WA), daughter Lisa and son-in-law Patrick (Grand Junction), stepson Kevin and wife Linda (Seneca, SC), stepson Kirk (Jacksonville, FL) and stepdaughter Kara and son-in-law Scott (Jacksonville, FL), grandchildren Dominque, Logan, Jimmy, Sarah, and Spencer, and brothers Colin (Eagle River, MN) and Michael (McGregor, MN). The family would like to thank everyone who cared for Sherry during the course of her illness, including those at HopeWest Hospice Care Center. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to HopeWest Hospice, the Alzheimer’s Association, or American Lutheran Church.