Marguerite Elizabeth Dowd

Marguerite, known by many as Maggie or Aunt Margie, was born at home in Clay Center Kansas to John and Mary Wernette. It was on the farm her life story began. Marguerite was the youngest of eight (8) children. She graduated from Clay County Community High School and spent 2 years earning an Associates Degree from Mary Mount College in Salina, Kansas. During this time, she was employed by Wichita St. Joseph Hospital as a lab technician.

It was also during this time that she met her future husband “Larry”. He was stationed at McConnell Air Force Base and was selling pots & pans door to door for extra money. Marguerite bought a set on payments and then married him before they were paid off!

They were married on November 27, 1954 at St. Peter & Paul Church in Clay Center, Kansas.

Marguerite’s first child Shelly, was born in 1955, her only daughter. Soon after, Larry was deployed overseas to Okinawa, Japan for two (2) years. Marguerite lived with her sister Clara in Denver during his deployment.

Marguerite’s special mission was that of a homemaker and wife. She gave the greatest devotion to each member of the family and as the family got bigger so did her heart.

When Larry returned from overseas, they stayed in Denver and continued to plan the rest of their adventure.

They moved to Grand Junction in 1965 as a family of one girl and four boys. The family grew to seven boys and one girl and eventually to twelve grandkids and seventeen great grandkids.

Maggie’s favorite things were crossword puzzles, watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, catching fish, picking fresh asparagus, her garden, canning pickles, playing poker and gambling which included picking the Broncos to win.

She was an outdoors woman and camping was an activity that got everyone out of the house. In fact, it doesn’t get any better than a freshly caught rainbow trout wrapped in tin foil with butter and onions cooked over a campfire.

She was preceded in death by her parents John & Mary Wernette, brothers, John, Gene and Charles “Bub” Wernette, sisters, Florence Marie “Sis” Wernette, Josephine “Dodie” Gardner, Lois Ann “Lou” Thompson, husband, Larry and sons Thomas, Andrew and Christopher.

Living Relatives include her sister Clara Madden, daughter Shelly Smith, sons Kelly Dowd, Jim Dowd, Dan Dowd and Joe Dowd along with her Grandchildren and Great grandchildren.

We are happy to know that mom is with family in heaven and we will miss her dearly.

Rosary at Callahan-Edfast on Sunday, March 15 at 5pm. Service will be held at Callahan-Edfast on Monday March 16, 2020 at 4pm and a reception to follow immediately at Lakeside Community Center, 3154 Lakeside Dr., #103, Grand Junction, CO.