Dr Dona Gower

1941 - 2013

Dr Dona Gower obituary, 1941-2013, Dallas, TX

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Dona Gower Obituary

Gower, Dr. Dona Spawn Born to Pearl and Vance Carrell on September 10, 1941, in Dallas, Texas, Dona lived the first eight years of her life with her beloved maternal grandparents Dona and Sidney Miller in East Dallas, who provided her with a foundation of love that would serve her well throughout life's less halcyon days. After her mother's marriage to Benjamin Spawn, she went to live with Pearl, Ben, and her new baby sister Susie Spawn in 1949. Ben's military career took the family to several outposts, but Dallas became their permanent home. Upon graduating as class valedictorian from St. Edward's High School in 1960, Dona enrolled at The University of Dallas where she met life-long mentors Louise and Donald Cowan. After she graduated cum laude from UD in 1964, Dona was encouraged by the Cowans to pursue her Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University, their alma mater. Louise Cowan had been acquainted with Herschel Gower when they were both graduate students at Vanderbilt and made a call to him about the young Miss Spawn's impending arrival, asking him "to look after her." Look after her he did. Married on June 25, 1966, Dona and Herschel celebrated more than 46 years of marriage before her beloved Herschel's death at their home in Dallas on December 20 of 2012. The couple was the embodiment of poet John Donne's "two better hemispheres" and the two were each other's best teachers. Dona's professional career as a teacher spanned almost five decades. She was an English teacher at Harpeth Hall in Nashville, Tennessee, where she and co-conspirator Betty Marney created an English curriculum that still holds a reputation as one of the finest college preparatory curricula in the nation. Upon resigning from Harpeth Hall in 1985, Dona was invited by Sam McMurry, former headmistress at Harpeth Hall and then headmistress at The Hockaday School, to apply for an opening in Hockaday's English department. Dona did so, was appointed to the position and, with much support from Herschel and lots of kicking and screaming from their daughter Alison, moved the family to Dallas. Though she taught only one year at Hockaday, she left her mark by engendering a love of literature and learning among her students and by giving grammar tests that insured no girl would leave her class without knowing the power of the semi-colon and the horror of the comma splice. After her year at Hockaday, Dona was again influenced by Louise Cowan to change course when she invited Dona to take the helm of The Teachers' Academy at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. Under Dona's decade-long guidance, The Teachers' Academy continued to develop programs of study of classic literature for teachers and administrators. Routinely, participants would leave these programs, not with worksheets or perfunctory lesson plans, but with minds transformed by the power of classic texts and a reinvigorated sense of purpose in their profession. Dona also fostered the relationship between the University of Dallas and the Teachers' Academy and was instrumental in courses taught at The Teachers' Academy which received graduate credit from the university. She read many a master's thesis in her years at the Dallas Institute and even arranged for one bright young man to use her office during off hours so that he could have a place of quiet away from his young family to finish his master's thesis. In 1996, Dona decided to rededicate herself to her work with teachers and established the Athena Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated primarily to the education of teachers. In her seventeen years as Executive Director of Athena, she persistently advocated for teachers and the dignity of teaching. With her small assembly of loyal faculty, she taught thousands of teachers free of charge at Saturday Symposia and Summer Colloquia. Always welcoming teachers with deep respect, humor, intelligence, food and hospitality, Dona and her colleagues offered teachers a retreat from the relentless pressures of work, as they engaged in the study of great works of literature in an open, revitalizing conversation. In conjunction with classes for teachers, Dona was the leader of the Athena Class, a group composed of community members, with whom she studied classic and contemporary texts, once again generating challenging reflection and lively conversation. Dona's belief in the teacher's power to transform lives by example and scholarship was at the heart of all her work at Athena and throughout her career. After a long, gallant battle with cancer, she died peacefully at her home in Dallas on November 18, 2013. Her daughter Alison and her "daughter-by-choice" Albina Hernandez were by her side as she took her last breath. In addition to her sisters Susie (Spawn) Neighbors of Clinton, AR, Mary Alice (Carrell) Lowry of Grand Prairie, TX, Ann (Carrell) Coker of Dallas, TX, and her brother-in-law Edwin Hudson Gower of Nashville, TN, she leaves behind legions of cousins, nieces, nephews, students, and friends who knew her noble work and were transmogrified by her wit and love of learning. The family is ever-grateful for the ministrations Dona received from many doctors at Baylor and UT Southwestern, especially Dr. Siobhan Kehoe who treated Dona with care, compassion, and an occasional, loving pinch on the cheek. Her death in the comfort of her own home would have been impossible without the sweet mercies and good cooking offered by Ophelia Savoy, Grace Raymond, Felicia Diallo, Sophie Toure, Florence Hounsou, Kelly Ray, Ann Vanderslice, and Chris Lietz. These women were more than care givers and nurses; they were family and brought great comfort to Dona in her final days. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to the charity or non-profit of your choice. A memorial Mass is scheduled for January 11th, 2014 at St. Monica's Catholic Church, 9933 Midway Rd. Dallas, TX. 75220 at 10:30 AM. Visit northdallasfuneralhome.com for updates.

Published by Dallas Morning News from Nov. 24 to Nov. 25, 2013.
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i CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE WANTED TO CALL AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE AND MISS YOU. I'M SO GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO BE THERE WHEN YOU PASSED OVER. I KICK MYSELF FOR TAKING THAT NAP AND NOT GETTING TO BE THERE, BUT THE GIRLS WERE GREAT AND TOOK SUCH LOVING CARE OF YOU. SO MUCH I WANT TO SAY, BUT I KNOW YOU ARE LISTENING TO MY UNSPOKEN WORDS. I'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE !

SUSAN NEIGHBOURS/ MULLEN

Sister

November 18, 2020

All of these messages have touched my heart. She was my "big sister" and wish you could have known her in her youth. She was a "teacher" even in her teens. I miss her terribly.

Susie Neighbours

February 15, 2014

She was the sensei for many of us; her laughter and hospitality set the standard for learning in community. Our thoughts & prayers go with you.

Kate Nickell

January 8, 2014

Dr. Dona Gower changed my way of reading and understanding great literature. I will forever be indebted to this marvelous lady who freely shared her love and passion for teaching and learning.

Judith Nevil

January 7, 2014

The world of education has lost a shining star with Dona's death. What a wonderful inspiration she was to so many!
Gay Dale

December 27, 2013

Your mother was one of the greatest teachers I have ever had. I credit her and Betty Marney with preparing me for what has become a 20-year career teaching writing and literature. I was so fortunate to have known her and to have learned from her while I was at Harpeth Hall. I am sorry for your loss, Alison.

Shan Overton

December 22, 2013

God rest her wonderful soul. Thinking of you Alison.

Mark Harrington

December 22, 2013

Your mom's lessons and hearty laugh brought joy to all of us in Dallas ISD who had the privilege of attending the Dallas Institute for Humanities and Culture and the Athena Foundation.

Yulanda Nealy

December 22, 2013

I met Dona and Allison at UTSW and had the honor of getting to know them briefly. I was immediately impressed with the enthusiasm, intelligence and love of teaching Dr. Gower expressed and exhibited. In very difficult circumstances I grew to look forward to seeing them both and hoped to help as much as possible even if only to show and give support. I respect Dona and I know she will be missed by many. What a blessing Allison was to her mother, I think of you often and hope you are doing as well as possible after your loss of your parents over the past short period. Thank you for brightening my day often with wit and kindness. Jane Steele

Jane Steele

December 20, 2013

Dona Gower was a teacher and mentor to me and many of my colleagues in the 1990s. We found refuge and sustenance in classes at The Athena Foundation. Her gift of literature spans generations of teachers and students. Her passion for literature made all of us better teachers.

Susan Bussard

December 11, 2013

God's gift to us !!! We love you with all our hearts !!! You are a special gift from God to all of us . Your love is unlimited and it is unconditional. You are filled with Goodness and Holiness . Thank you for being you ... Alison, bless you.
Coye and Judy Krippner Grimmett

Coye and Judy Grimmett

December 3, 2013

Love and prayers to all who loved her and benefitted from her great intellectual gifts.

Sybil and Lyle Novinski

November 26, 2013

Blessings on Dr. Dona Gower who has gone home to her beloved Herschel.

Charlie Starr

November 26, 2013

Forever in so many people's hearts. God bless you Alison.

Celina Montes

November 26, 2013

For a tribute to someone who was so eloquent with words, there are none that adequately describe the impact that Dona Gower had on thousands and thousands of people...students of all ages. Her determination to instill intellectual engagement in all were both enlightening and challenging and brought true rigor to those who took up her banner. I had the privilege of knowing Dona both professionally and personally...both interactions made me a stronger person. She is an academic icon that will be missed so very much. The teachers of this city have lost a great champion. To Alison, you have her strength and the love of thousands.

Suzee Oliphint

November 25, 2013

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Dona did just that. Thank you Dona for lifting so many of us to a higher level of understanding and appreciation for great literature.

Blessings to you Alison for sharing a little of Dona's finale days on earth with those who loved her and always will.

Marjorie Sitter

November 25, 2013

We had the privilege of having Dona in our lives second-hand; through her amazing daughter and frequent stays at Casa Fall River. I only wish I had more chances to discuss controversial literary stances with her, but we all at least bonded on landscape endeavors and the combination of salmon and curry. Because she was awesome like that.

Jeffrey Dorough

November 25, 2013

Thank you Dona for giving me a love of literature and new insights into books. Your classes were one of the highights of my aging years Jean Laughlin

November 24, 2013

Such a voice for the true art of teaching has been silenced and will be sorely missed. Her passion for the classics was evident and she shared her vision of how great literature from all ages and cultures can enrich all our lives. She will be missed.
My deepest sympathy to you Alison, in your sorrow.

Martha McSweeney

November 24, 2013

Godspeed, Dona. Your passion for wisdom and your unwavering love for teachers will forever be with those of us lucky enough to have studied with you.

Alfonso Correa

November 24, 2013

Ali, how they both loved you. Thank you so much for sharing them both with me as a youth. As Always...Aly

November 24, 2013

By the grace of God I was allowed to bear witness to a most profound love of literature and knowledge as evidenced by the teachings of both of your esteemed parents. I shall always cherish the memory of them dear Allison

Vince Hackett

November 24, 2013

When I think of grace, intelligence, and beauty all rolled into one persona, I think of Dr. Dona Gower. She was such a gift to teachers everywhere, and an icon in the academic community. We will all miss her. My prayers are with you, her family and close friends.

Ernestine Rose

November 24, 2013

Transmogrified. Perfect. To a devoted teacher of teachers! She was practical, encouraging, and uplifting. Thank you for encouraging this, at one time, young teacher trying to better herself. Alison, we love you!

Monica Ward Weiss

November 24, 2013

My mother, father and I loved Dona from our first meeting, and felt extremely blessed to have found her in our lives. In such a short time she, Herschel and daughter Alison impacted us forever. It is not cliche to say that we are all better people for knowing and loving them. Dona will be missed so deeply.

Maureen McKinney

November 24, 2013

All of my love goes with you, Alison. You are not alone.

Rachel Clark

November 24, 2013

Dona's particular blend of incisive intelligence, social awareness, humanity, generosity, and mischievousness endeared her to me and generations of students at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture and, most recently, at the Athena Foundation. Farewell and thank you, Alma Mater.

David Banchs

November 24, 2013

Dona and I knew one another at the University of Dallas during the period from
1962 to the time of Dona's graduation in 1964.
I have many memories of her brilliance during that time.

Requiescat in Pace

Donald Nelson

November 24, 2013

Beautifully written and heartfelt; impossible to sum up a life in a short space, but lovely to have such a strong sense of personality within the writing.

November 24, 2013

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