Ernest F Dow

Ernest F. Dow, 103, of Gardner, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 with his loving family by his side.

Born in Jezzine, Lebanon, on February 10, 1922, he was the son of the late Fram and Marie (Harfouche) Dow. Ernest immigrated to the United States in 1951 and proudly opened Dow's Family Shoe Store ("Dow's") in Gardner in 1958, operating for over half a century. He built lasting relationships with generations of customers, vendors, and business partners, becoming a familiar and respected presence in the greater Gardner community and beyond. A wise and honest man, Ernest loved mentoring and his advice was often sought by many. He was a member of the National Shoe Retailers Association and received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, honoring his longevity in retail. In celebration of 60 years in business, Dow's was profiled in the "Gardner News," the "Telegram & Gazette" and was a main feature in "Shoe Retailing Today," a national trade publication.

Ernest was a man of unwavering faith and a longtime parishioner of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Church of Gardner and St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church in Lawrence. Though Ernest remained active well into his early 90s, in his younger years, he enjoyed playing and teaching tennis to his daughters, spending time with his family at the ocean, and tending to his garden. He was an avid reader, with a focused interest in history, and followed current events closely, always enjoying a good conversation. Above all else, Ernest deeply loved his family and cherished every moment he spent with them.

Ernest is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years, Martha (Karam) Dow of Gardner; two daughters, Nicole Dow of Nairobi, Kenya, and Nina Dow of Gardner; his siblings, Linda Helou and her husband Joseph of Lebanon; George Dow and his wife Samia of Lebanon; and Sister Félicité Dow of the Antonine Sisters of Canada, Ottawa, Canada; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins who live all over the world.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Theresa Dow.

Calling Hours will be held Monday, December 15, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA.

A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church, 145 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA. Committal services will follow at St. Anthony's Maronite Cemetery, North Lowell Street, Methuen, MA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777. The family kindly requests that contributions be in loving memory of Ernest F. Dow.