Barbara Mary Dowis, 78, of Sterling, passed away May 15, 2011, in Sterling. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, with Vigil service and Recitation of the Rosary to follow. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 20, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, with the Rev. Robert L. Wedow officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery.

Barbara was born to Charles M. and Jean Davidow Soditus as Barbara Mary Soditus in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Oct. 9, 1932. Her name was later changed to Barbara Mary Hunter when her mother married Spring Odell Hunter during World War II. The family then moved to Steventown, N.Y., where she grew up on a small farm.

Barbara married George Duell in 1951 and later divorced in 1962. She supported herself and four children by working two to three jobs at a time in New York.

In 1958, she moved to Jonesboro, Ga., and was employed by Funtown in Atlanta and was the bowling center manager. That is where she met James Dowis, on their first date which was April 1, 1966. She said James was her "April Fools present." Later that same year they were married at the First Baptist Church on Nov. 19 in East Point, Ga. They then moved from Jonesboro to Hampton, Ga., in 1969, then on to Hill City, Kan., in 1976. Then in 1986, they moved to Sterling. There were other moves in between but these are the most significant.

She showed her love through 19 re-locations and 44 years. James and Barbara were remarried by the Catholic church on April 1, 2011.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 44 years, James W. Dowis of Sterling; three siblings, Eugene Hunter of Pensacola, Fla., Kenneth Hunter of New York and Gladyis Meola of Schenecty, N.Y.; five children, George W. Duell Jr. of Albany, N.Y., Jean M. Culberson of Douglasville, Ga., Barbara J. Jones of Portsmouth, Va., Terrance S. Dowis of Sterling, Jimmy Dowis of Spokane, Wash.; 18 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Plains.