Dr. Martha Anne Dow, 68, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007, of breast cancer.
She was surrounded by her husband, Gary, and their three children and six grandchildren. A private family celebration of life service was held Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. at Straub’s Funeral Home in Camas. An open gathering to celebrate of her life will be held 2 p.m. Saturday in Klamath Falls, Ore., at the Ross Ragland Theater. Martha Anne Eudy was born Jan. 3, 1939, in Little Rock, Ark., but called Montana her home. She was a microbiologist by training and said that she settled on that discipline because biologists had to draw their specimens. According to her account, she could manage the squiggles and other shapes of microorganisms, but couldn't draw other life forms. Martha longed to be an engineer, but was told it was not a profession for a woman. She was proud of her children and grandchildren. The highlights of her annual activities were times spent in the presence of her family. She cherished memories of trips to the family's cabin in Montana. Reading to her grandchildren was one of her favorite activities. She was especially fond of Dr. Seuss' ''Oh, the Places You'll Go!'' She also loved Elvis Presley's music. Martha and her husband regularly attended the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championships to cheer for the Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Institute of Technology. She was the university's fifth president, known for her vision, servant leadership and opendoor policy. On Sept. 12, 2007, OIT's new health sciences building was named in her honor the Martha Anne Dow Center for Health Professions. Martha held a bachelor's from Northern Montana College, a master's from Montana State University and a Ph.D. from University of Hawaii-Manoa. In 2000, she received the Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Service given by the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce and the Candice Richard Award for outstanding contributions to economic development, given by the Klamath County Economic Development Association. She was active in numerous organizations and was also a director on the Klamath Basin Ecosystem Foundation, Southern Oregon Public Television and served chair of the Crater Lake National Park Trust Board of Trustees. She is survived by her husband, Gary of Brush Prairie, Wash.; daughters, Julie (Ron) Del Carlo of Brush Prairie and Jerilyn (Jeff) Hanson of Oregon City, Ore.; son, Kevin (Stacy) Dow of Vancouver, Wash.; brother, Rich Eudy of Missoula; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws, Brian (Judy) Dow of Seattle, Chuck (Shirley) Dow of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Patricia (Ray) Gahlen of Seattle; and six grandchildren. Straub's Funeral Home in Camas is entrusted with arrangements. To send condolences or to sign the online guestbook visit www.straubsfuneralhome. com.
