Margaret Dowkes

Margaret Mary (Hutchison) Dowkes
November 12, 1923 – March 30, 2011

With sad hearts the family of Margaret Mary Dowkes of Nelson announces her passing at Nelson Jubilee Manor on March 30, 2011.
Margaret was born to Austin and Gertrude Simpson in St. James, Manitoba. She was the eldest of seven children. The family moved to Ottawa when she was very young. There she grew up and graduated from Commerce High School in 1939 at the age of 16. After high school she worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia until the start of the war.
Margaret’s brothers Arthur, Lloyd, Robert, and her father enlisted in late 1939 early 1940’s. With her father’s permission and lying about her age she also enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force WD at a very young age. Margaret served in Ontario and Quebec as an office clerk, general office (C.R), the police office, and her favorite posting in the flight control tower. It was during her service in the RCAF that she met Gordon Miranda and together they had six children. They worked in the Forest Service in many areas of Northern Ontario.
When Margaret and Gordon parted ways, she went to Dryden, Ontario where she met and married Neil Hutchison in 1961. She had three more children (only one surviving). Neil passed away in 1965 and Margaret stayed in Dryden until she moved to British Columbia in 1968/69.
Margaret worked various jobs in Nelson until she met and eventually married Lloyd Dowkes. They had a small excavator business, with which she learned to drive trucks and various other equipment, while Lloyd worked as an electrician. Most people would remember Margaret from working at the Nelson Parkade and the Nelson City Dump, with which they held contracts for many years. Eventually the RDCK took over the Nelson Dump, but she held her contract until her retirement in December 1999, when she was 76 years young.
Margaret worked hard most of her life and one regret she had was that she had very few long lasting friendships. Those she did have were special in her memories. Margaret had a very special brother-in-law and sister-in-law who she considered more than family, but also called very close friends in her life, Liz and Allan Hutchison, in Dryden, Ontario.
Sadly, Margaret is predeceased by her husbands Neil Hutchison (1965), and Lloyd Dowkes (2001), her oldest son Karl Miranda, daughter Donna Dumphy, and three babies.
Margaret leaves behind one sister, Beatrice Christie of Ottawa, Ontario.
She is survived by her children Gary (Jenny) Miranda, Doug (Sheila) Miranda of Edmonton, Stan Miranda of Calgary, Lynne (Larry) Martin of Kamloops and Sheila (Bill) Kootnikoff of Nelson.
Margaret is also survived by Lloyd’s children, her step children, Lloyd Jr, Helen, Shirley, Peter, and Bev.
Between the blended families there are many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with the latest born January of this year. There were also many nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial Service to celebrate Margaret’s life at a later date.
As an expression of sympathy family and friends may make donations to Nelson Jubilee Manor, or to the Legion Branch 51 in Nelson.
The family wishes to thank Dr. K. Bridger and the nursing staff at Jubilee Manor for making Mom’s last years with us as comfortable as possible. Your care and concern meant a lot to us.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Funeral Service Ltd.
Online condolences may be expressed at
www.thompsonfs.ca