Vivian Beatrice McDowell
January 15, 1931 - January 13, 2018
Obituary
Vivian (Leffard) McDowell
Vivian was born to Walter and Beatrice Leffard on January 15, 1931 in Seattle. She passed away on January 13, 2018. Vivian grew up in Seattle with her brother, Walt, and sister, Joyce. She graduated from Franklin High School in 1948. She married Tom McDowell in 1949. Early in their marriage they lived in Ketchikan, Alaska, with their first two children, Marilyn and Tommy. They returned to the Seattle area where they raised their growing family in the Arbor Heights area. Vivian was a homemaker while her children were young. She worked at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church for many years before joining Boeing. She retired from Boeing in 1995. She was a member of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, St. Michael’s Antiochian Orthodox Church (where her husband officiated), and New Creation Ministries.
Vivian will be remembered with love by her family. She loved babies and children, and enjoyed helping with all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband Tom in 1985. She is survived by her sister Joyce (Jim) McCaffree, her six children: Marilyn Conger, Tom McDowell, Katie (Aaron) Hairston, Richard McDowell, Becky (Jamie) Gifford, and Elizabeth (Frank) Wingert; her nine grandchildren: Jeremy (Rita) Conger, Sarah Conger, Julie (Chris) Smith, Rachel (Carl) Hehemann, Jackie (CJ) Alvarez, James Gifford, Daniel Moore, Riley and Connor Wingert; her ten great grandchildren: Michele, Saralyn and Kaitlin Hehemann, Sasha, Natasha and Misha Conger, CJ and Grant Smith, Logan and Simon Alvarez; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Alzheimer’s robbed us of the Vivian we knew as our Mom and Nana years before she passed away. It is a horrible disease, and a very long goodbye as your loved one deteriorates month by month.
Vivian had resided at Harmony & Compassion in Kent since April of 2015 due to Alzheimer’s. The family would like to thank Loredana DeLeon and the staff at Harmony & Compassion (Catherine, Daniella and Rosemary) for taking such good care of Vivian, and to Ovidiu for sharing Toby with her.
There will be no service at Vivian’s request.
I knew her as “Mom”. My kids knew her as Nana.When she babysat my 1st granddaughter, Michele Renee’, I would call her to request to stop by and play with Michele. I was never refused. Mom had a servant’s heart, always getting up from her meal to get something from the kitchen for someone ate the meal table, myself included. There is no doubt in my mind that she is with her husband Tom-Boompa, before the mighty throne of God singing with Angels and archangels.
Even though I haven’t seen Vivien in a long time, I ‘ ll miss her . She was a very giving person.
Vivian was such a gentle & kind soul. She was always welcoming to me–I will always keep her memory in my heart.
Keeping you all in my prayers. I have so many great memories of Nana.
Remembering Vivian and the days in the old neighborhood. When we could be kids and know our mom’s were keeping things on track.
I am Glad that I got to know and give care to Vivian. I wish you all my sincere condolences. She will be missed at Harmony Home but never forgotten.
With love,
Loredana Delean