"Grandma Betty"
After a short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer our mother, grandmother, sister and mother-in-law passed away early Tuesday, May 11th 2004 in Tooele, Utah.
Alta Elizabeth Starr was the fourth child born to Reed Stewart Starr and Alta Dion Ingram. Mom's mother passed away when mom was only two days old; what a reunion this will be. Her paternal grandparents William John and Sarah Ann Cooper Starr raised mom.
Mom was preceded in death by her brothers Jack and Elmo Starr and is survived by a sister Enid Comey of Reno, Nevada. Mom also had eight aunts and uncles: Mabel Ballard, Naomi McCune, Marcia Cromar, Katherine Shaw, Albert Starr, William Starr, Maurice Starr and Maida Sales, who treated mom as a sister. Mom graduated From Juab High School and attended LDS Business College. While attending school, mom lived with two special people, whom she considered her second mom and dad, Hal and Naomi McCune.
Mom met and later married our father Walter Mack Dow on the twenty fifth of June, 1938, they were later divorced. Mom was a member of the LDS Church and held many positions in her ward. Mom had three sons but was mother to many young girls as a counselor at Girls State for seven years. Mom and dad moved to Tooele in 1941 where mom ran the office of Mountain Fuel Supply that was managed by our father. As World War II worsened dad was drafted and mom, Wayne and Hal moved to Salt Lake and lived with the McCune's. When dad returned 3 years later the family settled in Tooele again, and mom worked at Tooele Army Depot 27 years retiring in 1975. She was also active in the American Legion Auxiliary, a member of the Tooele civic league, a volunteer at the VA Hospital gift shop, and was an avid bowler for many years in the Salt Lake City women's bowling association. Mom loved music, cards and was known for her skill in bridge.
Mom is survived by her sons Wayne Mack Dow (Carolyn Tate) of Tooele, Utah and Hal Starr Dow (Sharon Paul) of South Jordan, Utah. Mom's grandchildren are Julie Ann Waggoner, John Mack Dow, Danny Wayne Dow, Stacy Ann Penland; Darci Tolbert, Terri Lynn Morris and Brian Scott Dow. Mom is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren and eight step-great grand-children and six step-great-great-grandchildren. Mom was preceded in death by her brothers aunts and uncles, a son Lauren Everett Dow and grandson James Michael Dow who was the father of two special great- grandsons Michael and Colby Dow and their mother Sylvia.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday May 15, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. in the Tooele 11th/15th LDS Ward Chapel, 180 So Coleman, Tooele, Utah. Friends may call for a visitation at the church Saturday Prior to services 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Tooele City Cemetery immediately following the services.