Dawn Pierce DePew

Dawn Pierce DePew passed away on February 8, 2022. She was born to Duane and Julia Pierce on April 1, 1943 in Manhattan, New York. She is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 54 years Merlin; their only child April; her loving brother Roy; and numerous other family and friends who will deeply mourn her passing.

Dawn lived a very full life doing anything she set her mind to! She had a great passion for cooking/baking and entertaining, and will forever be remembered for her decorated sugar cookies and her grape leaves that no family gathering would be complete without! As a child, she grew up on the family ranch in Florida with a great love for horses and passed on that love for animals to her daughter April. After graduating from North Miami High School in 1961, she did some traveling and worked for the University of South Florida as a secretarial assistant for a professor she always spoke of fondly, Dr. Pappas. She loved Elvis and loved to dance, especially "The Twist" and met her husband Merlin by inviting him to dance at a party.

After they were married on May 4th, 1968, she became a mother on New Year's Day 1972. She stayed home to raise her daughter, but was never idle. She was a woman of many talents and worked from home on numerous projects over the years, including selling Tupperware, making wedding cakes, owning a floral & gift shop in Gahanna Ohio called Dawn's Designs, and teaching cooking demonstrations, all while doing everything she could to ensure April had a memorable childhood. Dawn was the leader of April's Girl Scout troop, an active member in her elementary school PTA, and taught her to cook and bake. When the time came for her to leave home and get married, Dawn wrote and published a cookbook dedicated to April - "Now That Mom's Not Around Cookbook" - which was sold in stores such as Barnes and Noble and The Cracker Barrel Country Store!!

Once Dawn had become an empty nester, she returned full time to the work force as the Executive Assistant to the President of the science department at Merrill/McGraw-Hill Publishing Company in Columbus, Ohio, where she worked for 18 years until she retired. During that time, she also earned a degree in Hospitality Management from Columbus State Community College and wrote a cooking column for Co-op Electric's Country Living Magazine. Additionally, she volunteered a great deal of her time over the years to Toastmasters International and the local Welcome Wagon committee. Dawn was an avid traveler since her teenage years and had visited all 50 states, as well as numerous European countries, Central America, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.

Dawn was a unique person who accomplished so many things in her life and touched so many other people's lives. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her. Dawn's family invites you to please share your memories of her on the Tribute Wall, and encourages you to upload any photos you may have as well.

Arrangements entrusted to Schoedinger Northeast.

A celebration of her life will be held at Haven's Corners Church in Blacklick, Ohio, at 11am on her birthday, April 1st. Following the service, a luncheon will be held at the church, and all who attend Dawn's service are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, family and friends who wish to honor her memory can make donations in her name to the Haven's Corners Church by visiting their website at https://www.havenscornerschurch.org/contact-us and clicking the donate button on the Contact Us page.