Dowen Earl LaVanway, 73, a lifelong resident of Waitsfield with a couple of years spent in Florida, passed away at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin on Sunday, February 15, 2015, following a brief illness with cancer. Born in Waitsfield on March 15, 1941, he was the seventh of eight children born to Albert Sr. and Edythe (Brothers) LaVanway.
Born with a cleft pallet, Dowen was pulled from school at an early age and he was soon earning a wage to help contribute at home. Early on, Dowen was working for a dairy farm and later horse farms. He started a career at Sugarbush Resort parking cars in the winter and general maintenance year round. Dowen retired from Sugarbush after 25 years of service. Dowen spent many Friday and Saturday evenings at The Blue Tooth or Gallagher's. He was hit by a hit-and-run driver who left him behind. He was no longer able to dance (which was one of his greatest pleasures); it also impeded his walking and hastened his retirement.
Dowen is survived by his younger brother, Roger and his wife Judy, and sisters-in-law, Barbara Dalley LaVanway and Zelda Hartshorn LaVanway. He was predeceased by his parents, stepmother Stella Patch Gates, sister Constance and her husband James Ruiz, sister Cathleen and her husband James Dalley, sister Mavis and her husband Clyde Ricketts, sister Julia (Joy) and her first husband Bill Rowell and her second husband Ernest Dennler, brothers Clarence (Sonny) and Albert Jr. Dowen had 6 nieces and 18 nephews plus extended family.
With great pride, even with his lack of education and physical disabilities he was able to live in his own home by himself until he was last hospitalized. Special thanks go to his sister-in-law Zelda, who has been at the end of many emergency calls with an answer or solution. Special thanks to his niece Lori and her husband Scott Collins for the years of shopping, cooking, doctor appointments and trips associated with his care. Thanks to the oncologists, doctors and nurses at CVMC who made Dowen comfortable in his last days. Thanks to the Waitsfield community, friends and neighbors in the Verd Mont Trailer Park that Dowen called home.
Private family services will be held later this spring. Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com.
