Marian Lois Dashow

Marian Lois Dashow died midmorning, Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Sierra Blanca Care Center in Lakeside, Navajo County, Arizona at the blessed age of 98. Marian was born on August 3, 1913 in Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota to the late Harold and Mary Elizabeth "Masie" (Farrington) Keenholtz. As a young married woman, she and her husband, Lowell E. Dashow, owned and operated Dashow Furs in Minneapolis, Rochester and Worthington, Minnesota. Her job was lining all of the fur coats and embroidering the monograms on them while her husband worked the pelts. They had a very successful business and, in 1953 they moved to Arizona and tried their hand in another business opportunity when they opened up a gift shop in Scottsdale, Arizona. Some years later they moved their gift shop to another location in a Phoenix hotel. While there they were able to socialize with many of the Hollywood celebrities of the time and thoroughly enjoyed their time there. Never really being able to quit the furrier business, Marian and Lowell later opened another fur shop in Phoenix. They ran that shop until Lowell passed away, unexpectedly in January of 1973. Quite the city girl, Marian always enjoyed walking wherever she needed to go in town. She never drove. She loved to stroll on the arm of her husband, Lowell and, after he died, she enjoyed walking with the rest of her family and other friends. However, whenever she had the opportunity, Marian loved to hop in the car and go for a nice long car ride. One of her favorite trips was actually traveling to the landfill. It wasn't the landfill that she enjoyed, rather, it was the drive TO and FROM it. She found the scenery and landscape just breathtaking. She always appreciated the world in which she lived and always found the beauty in it. She moved to Lakeside, Arizona in 1980 and again found an even greater beauty in these White Mountains. Frequently her family would take her out on the open roads or up to the mountains and cruise around in the Jeep. She was always thrilled to be apart of those ventures and her family will always remember the great fun they had together. Marian was truly a social butterfly and she always loved a good party. Always the gracious host, Marian too would throw parties at her own home and everyone always had a lovely time. This incredibly dynamic woman who accomplished so much in her long life will be missed by many. However, none will miss her more than her own family; as her family meant everything to her. Marian Lois Dashow is survived by her only daughter, Diane (Randy) Harris of Lakeside, Arizona; 5 grandchildren: Debbie (Jason) Fish of Iron River, Michigan, Holly (Kevin) Wilkening of Show Low, Arizona, Shanna (Brad) Conroy of Surprise, Arizona, Leslie Baca of Pinetop, Arizona, Elizabeth Harris of Lakeside, Arizona; 10 great-grandchildren: Tyler Gilchrist, Ashley Gwaltney, Randi Rae Baca, Matt Dawahoya, Preston Wilkening, Emily Lynn, Spencer Wilkening, Tre Baca, Belle Baca, Zane Conroy; and one great-great-granddaughter, Melody Gilchrist. Along with her parents and husband, Marian was preceded in death by 1 grandson, Jimmy Gilchrist in 1993 and 1 great-grandson, Britton Wilkening in 1992. A special memorial service for Marian will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the Solterra Senior Living Center in Lakeside. Memorial contributions to The White Mountain Hospice Foundation: P.O. Box 1975, Lakeside, AZ 85929 or to the Alzheimer's Foundation: 1028 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006 have been suggested by her family.