Sally Riley Dowler

September 25, 1923-January 20, 2017

Sally died peacefully in Winnipeg after a very brief illness. She was the daughter of Major-General Harold James Riley and Ruth Moore Riley and the wife of James McLean Dowler who pre-deceased her. She was also pre-deceased by her brothers Jim, John and Tom. Left to cherish her memory are her children; Judith of Ottawa, James and his wife Judy of Vancouver, Susan and her husband Jim Burke of Claremont, California,her Dowler grandchildren Thomas, Morgan and Patrick and his wife Alexis, her Burke grandchildren Jon and his wife Lindsay, Kim and her husband Mark and her great grandchildren, Cary, Willa, Conor, Finian, Cassie, James, Damon and Claire, her numerous relatives and a lifelong circle of devoted friends.

Sally was born and educated in Winnipeg, attending Grosvenor School, Rupert's Land College and graduating with an Honours degree in History from the University of Manitoba in 1942. During WW II, she worked in Montreal with her two best friends (and later bridesmaids) Sheila White and Joc Dubienski at The Ferry Command. When the war ended, she returned to Winnipeg and fell in love with and married James McLean Dowler in 1947. They lived in Los Angles for three years and then moved to Calgary for six years where Sally was very active in the Junior League. In 1956, they came back home to Winnipeg.

Sally embraced the cultural richness in the community of Winnipeg including The Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg Symphony, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Junior League. She served on many committees to support education and the community. She was also a dedicated patron of the Assiniboine Park Conservancy and of St Andrew's River Heights United Church. She was an avid member of the RehFit Center for more than 30 years, enjoying an exercise class twice a week until the last year of her life.

Above all, Sally loved to spend time with her family and dear friends: in Winnipeg, on warm vacations in the winter, and at Lake of the Woods for countless, endless, wonderful summers.

To the fortunate many who knew her, Sally's elegance, intelligence and quiet warmth were perfectly balanced with her wry sense of humour. She read widely, could readily converse on current topics, and she was a model of how to age gracefully. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 27 at 1 pm at St. Andrew's River Heights United Church, 255 Oak Street, Winnipeg.

Flowers are gratefully declined. If friends so desire, donations can be made to the Assiniboine Park Conservancy assiniboinepark.ca or call 204-927-8080 or,

St Andrews River Heights United Church, 255 Oak St, Winnipeg MB R3M 3P7