Anita Gwen Urie's Obituary
Gwen's 26-year battle with cancer ended peacefully at home on the evening of September 23, 2011.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Grace Baptist Church in Warren, Oregon at 1:00 pm on October 1, 2011. Gwen was 67 years of age.
Gwen was born on July 26, 1944 in De Queen, Arkansas to William Archie and Carrie Louise Jones Rowlett. Gwen was the 5th of 7 children. Raised in West Texas, she attended Crane High School until her junior year. She graduated from high school in Artesia, New Mexico in 1962. After graduation, she married Joe Barker and moved to International Falls, Minnesota.
In 1967, they moved to St. Helens where she lived the remainder of her life. Gwen did child care in her home for many years and loved children. She then went to work for Boise Cascade for over 23 years. She retired in 2003 as a Payroll Specialist. Gwen married Don Urie, Sr. in St. Helens on February 19, 1983. She was a member of the Baptist church for most of her life, baptized at the age of 14 in Crane, Texas and a member of Grace Baptist Church since 1967.
Gwen is survived by her beloved husband and best friend of 28 years, Don Urie, Sr.; two daughters, Melissa Barker of Springfield, Oregon, Gina Matney and husband, Mike, of Hillsboro, Oregon; one step-son, Donald G Urie, Jr., who is serving in the US Army, and wife, Christina; grandchildren, Aaron and Hannah Matney, Joshua Warner, Nathan Urie, Rebecca Vining and husband, Tim, of Pueblo, Colorado; two great grandchildren; siblings, Maxine Patton and husband, Elmer, of Talco, Texas, Freda Law and husband, La Joe, and Johnny Rowlett and wife, Gale, both of Forney, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, William Archie, Jr. and James Wesley Rowlett, and one sister, Deanna Kaye Mann.
Gwen will always be remembered for her faith, service to others, and ability to persevere gracefully despite adversity.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation, www.accrf.org or Grace Baptist Church, www.heartbeatofgrace.com.
Private family commital services will be held at Columbia Memorial Gardens, Scappoose, Oregon.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Columbia Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Online condolences can by made to the family at: www.columbiafh.com
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