Colusa County loses life long resident and one-time oldest employee
Dorothy Elizabeth Messick Caldwell Bowden (93) passed away peacefully at her home in Grimes on February 23, 2014.
She was born on September 22, 1920 in Sycmore, CA to parents; Mary A. (Earp) Messick and John A. Messick.
She was a graduate of Colusa High School, a lifelong resident of Colusa County, and she had the distinction of being the County's oldest employee for many years.
She retired just three years ago, just a few months prior to her 90th birthday.
Not only has Dorothy Bowden been recognized as the County's oldest employee, she also set an example for many people.
She raised four sons; Jim, John, Gene and Gib by driving trucks delivering Colusa County farmers' crops for many years.
Actually, she started driving when her youngest son Gib was still a baby. She once remembered those days by saying; "In those days I could just take him in the truck with me."
Later she retired to stay at home and raise her granddaughter Jamie Caldwell, but when she was 70 years old, her doctor suggested for her health that she go back to work or do some volunteer work.
That is when she went to work for the county. First she worked at the Evan's Landfill in Arbuckle, and when it closed she transferred to Maxwell where she worked until she retired.
She reluctantly retired at 90 saying she was going to miss the people and all of the visiting she got to do at her job.
Colusa County Supervisor Tom Indrieri commented that she will be missed in the county. "She was a good employee to the county for 20 years," he said but added it was her personality that was the best.
"She was a ‘feisty' woman who would put a smile on your face. It was always fun to interact with her," he said.
Once she retired she still enjoyed her life and the company of her family. Her granddaughter Jamie and great granddaughter Rosanna lived next door to her and were constant companions and helpers for her. Later her former daughter-in-law Cindy Emery came to help with her care.
Dorothy will be remembered as a strong, loving woman who was an inspiration to many women. She lived a life of hard work and ongoing determination to survive, take care of her family and prove that she was capable of accomplishing what she put her mind to doing.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husbands, Edgar (Buzz) Caldwell and John C. Bowden, sons; John Caldwell and Jim Caldwell, her parents; John A. and Mary Messick, and one sister; Alma Ester Messick Miller.
She is survived by 2 sons; Gene (Carol) Caldwell, Carrollton, Tx, and Gib (Jane) Caldwell, Klamath Falls, OR, daughter-in-law Rochelle Caldwell, Chico, and seven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Dorothy Elizabeth Messick Caldwell Bowden (93) passed away peacefully at her home in Grimes on February 23, 2014.
She was born on September 22, 1920 in Sycmore, CA to parents; Mary A. (Earp) Messick and John A. Messick.
She was a graduate of Colusa High School, a lifelong resident of Colusa County, and she had the distinction of being the County's oldest employee for many years.
She retired just three years ago, just a few months prior to her 90th birthday.
Not only has Dorothy Bowden been recognized as the County's oldest employee, she also set an example for many people.
She raised four sons; Jim, John, Gene and Gib by driving trucks delivering Colusa County farmers' crops for many years.
Actually, she started driving when her youngest son Gib was still a baby. She once remembered those days by saying; "In those days I could just take him in the truck with me."
Later she retired to stay at home and raise her granddaughter Jamie Caldwell, but when she was 70 years old, her doctor suggested for her health that she go back to work or do some volunteer work.
That is when she went to work for the county. First she worked at the Evan's Landfill in Arbuckle, and when it closed she transferred to Maxwell where she worked until she retired.
She reluctantly retired at 90 saying she was going to miss the people and all of the visiting she got to do at her job.
Colusa County Supervisor Tom Indrieri commented that she will be missed in the county. "She was a good employee to the county for 20 years," he said but added it was her personality that was the best.
"She was a ‘feisty' woman who would put a smile on your face. It was always fun to interact with her," he said.
Once she retired she still enjoyed her life and the company of her family. Her granddaughter Jamie and great granddaughter Rosanna lived next door to her and were constant companions and helpers for her. Later her former daughter-in-law Cindy Emery came to help with her care.
Dorothy will be remembered as a strong, loving woman who was an inspiration to many women. She lived a life of hard work and ongoing determination to survive, take care of her family and prove that she was capable of accomplishing what she put her mind to doing.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husbands, Edgar (Buzz) Caldwell and John C. Bowden, sons; John Caldwell and Jim Caldwell, her parents; John A. and Mary Messick, and one sister; Alma Ester Messick Miller.
She is survived by 2 sons; Gene (Carol) Caldwell, Carrollton, Tx, and Gib (Jane) Caldwell, Klamath Falls, OR, daughter-in-law Rochelle Caldwell, Chico, and seven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Colusa County loses life long resident and one-time oldest employee
Dorothy Elizabeth Messick Caldwell Bowden (93) passed away peacefully at her home in Grimes on February 23, 2014.
She was born on September 22, 1920 in Sycmore, CA to parents; Mary A. (Earp) Messick and John A. Messick.
She was a graduate of Colusa High School, a lifelong resident of Colusa County, and she had the distinction of being the County's oldest employee for many years.
She retired just three years ago, just a few months prior to her 90th birthday.
Not only has Dorothy Bowden been recognized as the County's oldest employee, she also set an example for many people.
She raised four sons; Jim, John, Gene and Gib by driving trucks delivering Colusa County farmers' crops for many years.
Actually, she started driving when her youngest son Gib was still a baby. She once remembered those days by saying; "In those days I could just take him in the truck with me."
Later she retired to stay at home and raise her granddaughter Jamie Caldwell, but when she was 70 years old, her doctor suggested for her health that she go back to work or do some volunteer work.
That is when she went to work for the county. First she worked at the Evan's Landfill in Arbuckle, and when it closed she transferred to Maxwell where she worked until she retired.
She reluctantly retired at 90 saying she was going to miss the people and all of the visiting she got to do at her job.
Colusa County Supervisor Tom Indrieri commented that she will be missed in the county. "She was a good employee to the county for 20 years," he said but added it was her personality that was the best.
"She was a ‘feisty' woman who would put a smile on your face. It was always fun to interact with her," he said.
Once she retired she still enjoyed her life and the company of her family. Her granddaughter Jamie and great granddaughter Rosanna lived next door to her and were constant companions and helpers for her. Later her former daughter-in-law Cindy Emery came to help with her care.
Dorothy will be remembered as a strong, loving woman who was an inspiration to many women. She lived a life of hard work and ongoing determination to survive, take care of her family and prove that she was capable of accomplishing what she put her mind to doing.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husbands, Edgar (Buzz) Caldwell and John C. Bowden, sons; John Caldwell and Jim Caldwell, her parents; John A. and Mary Messick, and one sister; Alma Ester Messick Miller.
She is survived by 2 sons; Gene (Carol) Caldwell, Carrollton, Tx, and Gib (Jane) Caldwell, Klamath Falls, OR, daughter-in-law Rochelle Caldwell, Chico, and seven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Dorothy Elizabeth Messick Caldwell Bowden (93) passed away peacefully at her home in Grimes on February 23, 2014.
She was born on September 22, 1920 in Sycmore, CA to parents; Mary A. (Earp) Messick and John A. Messick.
She was a graduate of Colusa High School, a lifelong resident of Colusa County, and she had the distinction of being the County's oldest employee for many years.
She retired just three years ago, just a few months prior to her 90th birthday.
Not only has Dorothy Bowden been recognized as the County's oldest employee, she also set an example for many people.
She raised four sons; Jim, John, Gene and Gib by driving trucks delivering Colusa County farmers' crops for many years.
Actually, she started driving when her youngest son Gib was still a baby. She once remembered those days by saying; "In those days I could just take him in the truck with me."
Later she retired to stay at home and raise her granddaughter Jamie Caldwell, but when she was 70 years old, her doctor suggested for her health that she go back to work or do some volunteer work.
That is when she went to work for the county. First she worked at the Evan's Landfill in Arbuckle, and when it closed she transferred to Maxwell where she worked until she retired.
She reluctantly retired at 90 saying she was going to miss the people and all of the visiting she got to do at her job.
Colusa County Supervisor Tom Indrieri commented that she will be missed in the county. "She was a good employee to the county for 20 years," he said but added it was her personality that was the best.
"She was a ‘feisty' woman who would put a smile on your face. It was always fun to interact with her," he said.
Once she retired she still enjoyed her life and the company of her family. Her granddaughter Jamie and great granddaughter Rosanna lived next door to her and were constant companions and helpers for her. Later her former daughter-in-law Cindy Emery came to help with her care.
Dorothy will be remembered as a strong, loving woman who was an inspiration to many women. She lived a life of hard work and ongoing determination to survive, take care of her family and prove that she was capable of accomplishing what she put her mind to doing.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husbands, Edgar (Buzz) Caldwell and John C. Bowden, sons; John Caldwell and Jim Caldwell, her parents; John A. and Mary Messick, and one sister; Alma Ester Messick Miller.
She is survived by 2 sons; Gene (Carol) Caldwell, Carrollton, Tx, and Gib (Jane) Caldwell, Klamath Falls, OR, daughter-in-law Rochelle Caldwell, Chico, and seven grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
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