Heather Angela Dowdy

We were graced with the presence of our daughter, Heather, for 17 years before her return to heaven. Born June 29, 1983, Heather was snatched from us in a brief instant on Saturday, September 30, 2000, in a vehicle accident. While delivering some clothing and running other errands, Heather was hit by a drunk driver at 3 p.m. on the Old Steese Highway in Fairbanks, Alaska. She suffered massive injuries.

When Heather was 4 years old, a dear friend, Marilyn West, gave her a long strip (about 3 yards long) of green nylon fabric. This piece of fabric traveled with her on every trip to Missouri. Heather loved this fabric. She slept with it, used it for Halloween costumes, and, at age 4, used it for her first clothing designs and modeling experience. Heather could wrap herself in this fabric and turn it into a dozen different outfits. Then, we would have to rate her and it always needed to be a "10." Then, we would all applaud as she modeled and it would be time for another costume change. She did this for years. When Heather died the material was found under the covers in her bed. This same beloved fabric was used to cover the altar at her memorial service.

Growing up in Fairbanks, summers became extra special times. From the time the trampoline arrived, it became an important part of the children's social and exercise development. Not only did Heather, Jennifer, Rachelle, and Ace spend all of their spare time bouncing, but so did most of the children in the neighborhood. This round, black, springy object became a magnet in the neighborhood. All the kids knew the rules. They had so much fun bouncing and laughing. Almost every evening at 10 p.m., I had to finally send them all home, only to have the crew arrive the next day for more fun. It was such a nice group of neighborhood kids that Heather grew up with. But, as they got old enough to attend Weller grade school, we then also had their school buddies that were coming over to bounce. What a lot of fun they had.

Heather was a student, photographer, and a model. A student at Lathrop High School, she was looking forward to graduating a semester early and moving to Portland, Oregon, in February. As Heather had lived all her life in Fairbanks, she was eagerly looking forward to this move. Her sister Jennifer, niece Zoe, and many friends were anticipating Heather's arrival. Heather had been working at River City Deli, saving money for her next adventure. While working at the Deli, she had made many lifelong friends and made a huge impact on the people working there. Never a minute late for work, she loved her job and Rene and Nancy, the people for whom she worked.

Heather fell in love with photography three years ago while taking the class at Lathrop. She had her own dark room and spent many enjoyable hours working in it. While attending the Summer Fine Arts Camp, Heather had the great fortune of working with two fine teachers, Kira Corser and Sheryl Maree Reily, both great women who helped shape her life. Heather often posed for Ms. Reily (you can see three of her fine photographs that accompany this article). This past summer, Heather worked as assistant photography instructor at the Summer Fine Arts Camp. She had also worked as photographer and editor of Lathrop's 1999-2000 yearbook. One of her first professional jobs was an assistant on a shoot for Japanese Newsweek.

A serious artist, Heather leaves with us photographs, macramé jewelry and clothing, crocheted hats, and other beautiful objects that reflect her many talents. There will be an exhibition of Heather's work in the University of Alaska - Fairbanks Fine Arts Gallery in 2001. Her attention to detail, free-wheeling imagination, passion for life, responsible character, commitment to doing her best, and reaching out to others, connected Heather to those who knew her in deep, significant ways.

Heather had a zest for making friends and caring for them. The evening before her death, she and several of her close friends went out for dessert, sharing and catching up on their daily lives, all of them busy with school and jobs. On her way home, with the roads being slick, she came across a car in the ditch. She stopped and gave the mother and two small children a ride home. She found great joy in being able to do this for them.

We are happy that Heather was able to make so many wonderful friends. We know they, as we, miss her deeply. We think now of the many plans that will shift in ways we cannot anticipate.

Heather and her eldest sister, Rachelle, were working on a collaborative sculpture to enter in the Interior Artisan's show in spring of 2001. Almost every day, they spoke to each other on the telephone, if they did not see each other in person. For the last three years, Heather spent almost every weekend with Rachelle. Now with this big void in her life, Rachelle will be working on the piece alone. As she finishes the project and brings this shared vision to life, Heather will be in each stroke carved into the wood.

At Heather's memorial on October 5th at St. Raphael's Catholic Church, our collective friends and family gathered to celebrate her life. With a tremendous outpouring of love, more than 3000 people attended, filling the church to overflowing. Playing and singing the music she loved was a talented group of friends from the church. As two dozen of her friends and family members spoke, we were all able to share in the many memories of Heather's life that made her so unique. As those stories unfolded we were able to see a diverse, energetic, talented, dramatic, joyous, dancing pixie emerge.

When Heather was born that warm day in June, I remember how she was eagerly awaited by Rachelle, Jennifer, and Ace. They grew up together as very close friends, playing together, and enjoying each other's company. Now as we are left without Heather, sadness fills our heart almost to bursting. We do not know the time or place or how long it will be before we meet again, but we are looking forward to having Heather meet us when it is our time to pass over. Until then, we have our memories, our many pictures, and our momentos.

Heather is loved and survived by her parents, Barbara and Asa Dowdy; her brother, Ace Dowdy; her sisters, Rachelle Dowdy and Jennifer Lindsey; her niece, Zoe Lindsey; her grandparents, Arabella and Norbert Kluesner; her grandmother, Ruby Dowdy; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives in Missouri; Sandy and Kim Gillespie; employers, Rene and Nancy Koumal; friends, Amanda, Colleen, Jessica, and Daniel; and many other beloved friends and teachers.

Written by Barbara Dowdy and Sandy Gillespie