Patricia Pierson Dowers

Patricia Ann Pierson Dowers, 80, of Nixa, Missouri died peacefully in her sleep on November 14, 2014 surrounded by her husband and four daughters. Pat was born on February 5, 1934, in Burlington, Kansas, the daughter of Ray and Alice Pierson. She had two brothers, James Douglass Pierson and Ray Samuel Pierson, Jr., both of whom preceded her in death. Pat graduated from the University of Kansas in 1956. At KU, she was Head Varsity Cheerleader, a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority, Pi Lambda Theta Education Honorary, Mortarboard, and was Senior Class Calendar Queen. She was also the Kansas Princess in the Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, D.C. A longtime resident of the Kansas City area, Pat was actively involved in significant volunteer endeavors including the Junior League, the PEO Sisterhood, Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club, and the Junior Women's Philharmonic (now the Kansas City Symphony). She directed the development of the first Symphony Designer Showhouse. Pat enjoyed music, travel, reading and, most of all, her family. Pat is survived by her husband, Harold Dowers, her four daughters, Anne Burke (and her husband Dee James), Kelly Barnett (and her husband Marc), Cathy Rhodes (and her husband Richard), Jenny Roth (and her husband Cameron), and stepchildren Terry Ogles, Merrill Dowers, and Beth Maldonado. She is also survived by ten granddaughters and five grandsons. A celebration of Pat's life will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 1:30 PM at St. Francis Xavier Church located at 215 Juniatta Street, Burlington, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. This clipping was found in Pat's planner: Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for a while, leave footprints in our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. (Flavia)