Kathy Ann Dow

Kathy Ann Dow was born on November 19, 1958 in Corvallis, Oregon to Darrel and Dorothy Cleveland. She died on March 15, 2025 in her home in Albany, Oregon surrounded by her loving family.
Kathy grew up in Albany and attended Fir Grove Elementary School, North Albany Junior High, and graduated from West Albany High School in 1977. She then attended Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon for two years with an academic focus on Early Childhood Development. While at WPC she met her future husband, Stephen Dow, who was there getting his pastoral studies degree. They later married on January 5, 1980.
While she was a young girl, Verle and Leila Moore offered to take her and her brother Lynn to church with them. It was during these years Kathy began her faith journey. She placed her life in God's hands when she gave her life over to Jesus. Because of the witness of her beloved pastor Emmett Hofer and his wife, Rita, Kathy dreamed of one day becoming a pastor's wife and serving in a church somewhere. This happened when she married Steve and they began their joint ministry in Albany (1980) when Steve was a youth pastor. Then it was off to Surrey, British Columbia (1983) for their first senior pastorate. This was followed by a pastorate in Morden, Manitoba (1989). Eventually, in 1996 they returned to the United States to the small town of Rainier, Oregon to serve as the pastoral team there. This was followed by their final pastorate back in Albany at the First Church of God (2002) where their ministry had first begun in 1980. Through the years in ministry Kathy's circle of friends only expanded as she endeared herself to so many wonderful people.
One of her greatest joys and desires was to be a mother. For many years this did not happen which caused her to experience a great sadness. However, God was listening to her earnest prayers and on August 9, 1988 Brittany Ann was placed in Kathy's arms thanks to our very dear friends, Mike and Sherri Mugford. She was overjoyed! Finally, she could be a mom. But God was not finished yet. Two and a half years later, little Brittany began to pray, as only a small child can, for a baby brother or sister. Well, her prayers were answered when Kathy gave birth to Jordan Andrew, who was born on August 10, 1992. Kathy poured her life into her children and they each reflect her in unique ways. She felt so very blessed to be their mom.
Over the years Kathy has worked at various places where she shared her life and light. Most notable were the years in Surrey, British Columbia when she and Steve went into a restaurant business partnership with their dear friends, Abe and Arlene Enns. This was later followed by work in the medical field at a clinic in St. Helens, Oregon. Once she moved back to Albany, she worked for Genstler Eye Center. She thoroughly loved her years there working for Dr. G and his wonderful team. It was while she was working at Genstler Eye Center that Kathy had her first major bout with cancer. She had to be away from her job for 11 months as she recuperated from a major abdominal surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments. To her great joy, Dr. G held her position at his clinic until she was able to return to work.
Following this, Kathy worked for Samaritan Albany General Hospital in clerical. This was followed by a few years at Bonaventure Senior Living in North Albany, where she was the activity director for the Memory Care Unit and then for the Independent and Assisted residents. She thoroughly loved working with her seniors. While at this job she was diagnosed with Fallopian Tube cancer and had surgery followed by five different rounds of chemotherapy. While still in therapy, she applied for a job at Pioneer Elementary School in Lebanon, Oregon. Much to her delight, she was hired and began her new job as a Title 1 instructor and Teacher's Aid. Kathy joyfully anticipated each day at school where she had the opportunity to help young children achieve their educational goals. Plus, it was a healthy work culture which had been created by her beloved principal Tonya Cairo. Finally, after all those years, she was working in education for which she had gone to college.
Kathy possessed a passion for antiques which is very evident throughout her home. She loved to shop and delighted in finding "Just the right gift" for her family and friends. She had an addiction to plants. She often said of herself, "I cannot drive by a plant nursery without stopping." Her yard is ample evidence of this truth. She also gave serious thought to her home's décor. Everything in her home is well thought out. And, she decorated for many seasons (e.g. – Valentines Day, Easter, Fall Season, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Christmas was her favorite and the garage and attic are full of bins and boxes to testify to her love of Christmas). She especially enjoyed creating picture groupings of family members, as well as family heirlooms to decorate spaces in her home.
Kathy was also very fashion minded. She would not go out in public without being completely "put together." Hair in place, make up on, every article of clothing matching and coordinated, and all the accessories including jewelry and matching purse, of course.
And then there was her family. As mentioned, she adored being a mother, but this perhaps was eclipsed by the arrival of her grandchildren – Gabriel (17), Norah (14), Wesley (12), and Hailie (11). With the arrival of each new grandchild Kathy's joy would only increase.
Throughout the years of her life, Kathy was known for her beautiful smile, her energy, enthusiasm, and passion for life. She brought "light" and love wherever she went. Her faith in Jesus was strong. Strong enough to see her through a massive 12 ½ hour Whipple Procedure which removed her first cancer and reconstructed her GI track and was followed by chemotherapy, radiation, and more chemotherapy. Strong enough to recover from her second cancer surgery for Fallopian Tube cancer with five subsequent different chemotherapies. Her faith was tested yet again when she had to have an emergency resection of most of her small intestine due to scar tissue from her Whipple Procedure in 2007. She endured all of these while also having to face the normal ups and downs of living in this world. In short, she was an amazing woman who is profoundly missed.
Kathy was predeceased by her father Darrel Cleveland and stepmother Sharon Miekle and her in laws Neal and Vita May Dow. She is survived by her devoted husband Steve, children Brittany (John) Jewett and Jordan (Megan) Dow, and grandchildren Gabriel, Norah, Wesley, and Hailie. Her mother Dorothy Ann Cleveland and brother Lynn (Judy) Cleveland, nieces Jennifer (Brian) Stewart, Kimberly (David) Weber, and grand nephews Cameron, Nathan, and Blake and grand niece Emma.
Donations in memory of Kathy may be made to the Samaritan Evergreen Hospice Foundation.