Obituary For Marilousie Zacharias (nee Dowdy)
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10).
This Scripture verse was one of Mother’s favorites and we are thankful to say she lived it. She ran to the Lord her whole lifelong, now Mother is home for good; safe forever.
Marilouise (Dowdy) Zacharias, resident of Grande Prairie since 1984, passed into eternity Monday, August 16, 2010, at the age of 85. Her homegoing was six weeks to the day after the passing of her beloved husband, our Dad, Victor Zacharias.
Mother was born March 5, 1925, in Yakima, Washington, to Will and Edna Dowdy. She had ancestors with red hair (like hers): and they were members of the first wagon train to cross the Cascade Mountains. Her parents were fruit growers, and Mom grew up with her siblings in the nearby town of Selah.
At age 15, Mother became very ill and missed a year of school. That early brush with mortality seems to have been a life event that caused her to seek for safety in the love of God, who alone is unchanging.
Mother gave her life to Christ in her late teens. She graduated in education from Central Washington College, and taught for one year. She attended Prairie Bible Institute at Three Hills, AB; and served in mission work at the Yakima Indian Reservation.
In 1951 Mom served at Byron Bible Camp, South Dakota, where she met a tall Canadian. They fell in love (Dad loved her spunk, her baseball game, and the way she prayed!). On Christmas Eve, 1952, Victor and Marilouise were married in Selah, Washington.
They began ministry in South Dakota, where their sons Bryan, Mark, and Scott were born. Miriam was born in La Grande, Oregon, where they ministered 1958-1965. Mom and Dad ministered in Portland, Oregon 1965-1975; and in Anchorage, Alaska 1975-1984. They completed their service here with the Grande Prairie Alliance Church.
Mother’s modesty and gentleness concealed a great strength and a mischievous sense of humor. She loved her husband and children, and those she served. She has left us a shining legacy: the best lady we have ever known. We rise up and call her blessed.
Mother will be deeply missed by her children, Bryan (Judy), and their children Brandon, Rachel, Austin, and Yaysha; Mark (Pat) and Pat’s sons Lee and Chriss; Scott (Ramona) and their children Hannah (Fred), Daniel (Alician), and Charity (Quinn); Miriam (Michael) Leroux and their children Timothy and Harmony; and numerous great grandchildren; Mother’s surviving sister Barbara Young, and brother F. Mark (Cheryl) Dowdy; numerous relatives on both the Dowdy and Zacharias sides of the family, along with innumerable friends and “brothers and sisters”, here and around the world.
“The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Mother’s funeral service will be held Friday, August 20, at 1 p. m. at the Alliance Church.
Memorial donations may be made to the ministry of your choice.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marilousie Zacharias nee Dowdy March 05 1925 August 16 2010..
Death notice for the town of: Grande-Prairie, Province: Alberta