Roberta McDow Obituary

A visitation for Roberta J. McDow, 87, Lawrence will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Private inurnment will be at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery. She passed away Sunday, April 23, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Roberta was born April 24, 1929, in Cincinnati, IA, the daughter of Matthew and Helen (Wilkinson) Ross.

She was a member of Plymouth Congregational Church, past President of Alvamar Country Club and a former President of the Lawrence Board of Realtors. She loved spending time with her grandkids, was a hole-in-one-good golfer, world traveler, bridge player, avid reader and a talented knitter. She was "Teacher" to a women's knitting group for more than a decade. She had many friends whom she loved.

Roberta moved to Lawrence in 1959 and opened the Ben Franklin Store with Don. She then worked at McGrew Real Estate Agency and owned McDow/Bodin Real Estate Agency for 24 years until she retired in 1990.

She married Donald Gene McDow September 9, 1949, in Kansas City, MO. He preceded her in death October 29, 2016.

Survivors include her daughters, Suzanne Nutt and husband, David, Deborah "Debbie" Miller and husband, Mark; five grandchildren, Sara Nutt (David Gagne), Katy Hamilton (Barrett), J. Bradley Nutt (Eleysha), Andrew Miller (Lacey), Erin Miller; six great-grandchildren, Augustus, Emery, Kellen, Konnor, Jayden, Landyn; and sister-in-law, Kay Dudley and Mac. She was preceded in death by her parents, Matt and Helen Ross; her son, Richard McDow; sister, Barbara Gibson; and niece, Linda Gibson.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Visiting Nurses or Douglas County Historical Society and may be sent in care of the mortuary.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." - Erma Bombeck

Online condolences may be posted at warrenmcelwain.com.