Barbara Dow Files

Barbara was born in Kansas City, Missouri, daughter of Barbara Frost Dow and Burton Smith Dow, Jr. Her childhood was spent in Wichita, Kansas and Erie, Pennsylvania. She graduated in 1949 from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, with a degree in Liberal Arts. She traveled a lot and enjoyed visiting the family vacation home in Bethany Beach, Delaware and later in Florida. Barbara lived and worked in New York City and Hawaii prior to moving to Houston, Texas. While living in Houston, she completed her CPA certification, a skill that served her well throughout the rest of her life.

In 1975, she married John T. Files, the love of her life. Together they shared twenty five years of wonderful memories. Barbara and John met through the Christian Science Church, a devotion they shared throughout their lives. John Files was a loving husband and father of three grown daughters.

Barbara quickly became an active stepmother and grandmother to all of John’s children and grandchildren. She was affectionately known as “Gram” by all family members. She was loving, devoted and generous. Family was always at the center of her and John’s life. She will forever be fondly remembered for organizing numerous happy events. Outstanding in these memories are a surprise 80th birthday celebration for John at a working cattle ranch in New Mexico, several family cruises to the Caribbean as well as many lovely gatherings hosted at her beautiful home in Houston.

She was devoted to John’s business, Merichem Company, a business he began in 1947 that is still going strong today. She worked at Merichem Company up until the day she passed on, loyally looking after the family interest. She was devoted to her church, the Seventh Church of Christ, Scientist in Houston, Texas and served in several different capacities throughout the years including Board Member, Reader and heading up the church’s relocation to a new building.

Barbara was preceded in death by her mother and father, Barbara and Burton Dow, as well as her brother, Burton Smith Dow, III and niece, Renee Marek; her loving husband, John T. Files, and her stepdaughter, Shirley Files Schwaller.

Survivors include her niece, Roxane Dow, Tallahassee, Florida,; great nieces Alicia Marek Buck and husband, Chris Buck, and Robin Marek Morris and husband Robert: great nephew Lief Marek and wife Rebecca Marek, and her great-great niece and nephew, Gabriella Marek and Parker Buck, all of Temple, Texas. She is also survived by two stepdaughters, Lois Files Willis and husband, Earl Willis, who live in Lakeway, Texas; Franci Files Jarrard and husband, Stephen Jarrard, of Elgin, Texas and son-in-law Bob Schwaller and new wife, Joyce, who live in McKinney, Texas; five grandchildren, Ben Files Jarrard and Jenny Katherine Jarrard who live in Austin, Texas; Jeffrey Edward Kowitz and fiancé, Laurel Woodward, who live in Dallas, Texas; Kendra Kowitz Lee and husband, Michael Touchet Lee who live in Houston, Texas; and Mark Files Schwaller who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. There are two great grandchildren, Maxton Touchet Lee and Henry Files Lee. Barbara is also survived by members of the Willis family, Wyndi Bean, Earl’s daughter, and six great grandchildren, Shelby Bean, Kelly Bean, Jessyka Jordan, Darcus Jordan, Dakota Jordan and Jerika Jordan as well as great, great grandchild, Conner Jordan.

The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 6th of April, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Immediately following the service, all are invited to a reception in the adjacent Grand Foyer.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Seventh Church of Christ, Scientist,

1740 Yorktown, Houston, Texas, 77056. In lieu of flowers, please hug a friend or neighbor today. Share the Love and make someone’s day very special.