Joyce Bevan Dowd

Joyce Bevan Dowd (née Joyce Carol Bevan) was born to Edgar (“Cy”) Cyril Bevan and Olive Waddington Bevan on July 20, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan. Canadian by birth, Cy and Olive immigrated to the United States in 1924. Joyce and her sister Judy (born 1928) enjoyed a childhood spilt between Detroit and a farm in Clarkston, Michigan. Joyce graduated from Liggett High School (where she excelled in field hockey) in 1950 and the University of Michigan in 1954. She met her future husband David Dudley Dowd, Jr., in Ann Arbor at a sorority function which arbitrarily matched Tri Delta sisters with attending Michigan Law students by height.

They were wed on December 22, 1953 to ensure they were married before Dave was drafted into the Army during the Korean War era. Luckily, he received a commission to the Judge Adjutant General (JAGs) and entered the Army as a court martial lawyer. Uncle Sam sent the couple to Fort Banning, Georgia and to Würzburg, Germany, where Joyce taught American GIs French and English. Daughter Cynthia was born at Fort Benning in 1955; two years later son David (III) arrived in Würzburg. Joyce and Dave enjoyed their years in Germany greatly but happily returned home in 1957.

Back in the States Joyce gave birth to two more sons, Douglas (1960) and Mark (1965), rounding out the brood at four. While her children were young she focused on their development while Dave’s career in the law advanced. It included stints as an Assistant District Attorney and later District Attorney in Stark County, Ohio from 1961 through 1976, then the Ohio Court of Appeals and finally the Federal District Court of the United States, to which he was appointed in 1982 by President Reagan.

Joyce returned to education in 1969, taking a position teaching in a program for pregnant students from Washington High School at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Massillon. Her work was recognized with an offer to join WHS as a guidance counselor in 1972. She earned a masters degree in counseling from the University of Akron soon after, and worked in the guidance office until her retirement in 1992. Over the years she helped many students find their way with post-graduation plans, and advocated for drug abuse awareness and treatment. She served on the boards of Stark County Family Services and Spring Hill Farm of Massillon.

In 1996 Dave took senior status (or semi-retirement) as a federal judge, which enabled Joyce and Dave to spend part of the year in Naples, Florida. They divided time between Massillon and Naples for many years, entertaining four children and their families whenever possible. Dave struggled with mobility issues in later years and Joyce showed her customary strength and flexibility to make life full for and with him. After a brief illness Dave passed away in August 2016. Joyce returned to northern Ohio to be near Cindy and Mark, and last lived at Maplewood of Cuyahoga Falls, where she passed away surrounded by her children on March 24, 2024.

Joyce was blessed with grace and poise to match her legendary strength and sturdiness. She routinely moved large pieces of furniture by herself, painted and re-wallpapered rooms at a whim, and never once in her entire life left dishes in the sink. She was also glamorous, self-possessed, and whip smart. She once confessed to having learned to conceal the latter, so as not to intimidate the boys, but anyone paying attention knew better. Despite all the preceding, Joyce Bevan Dowd will be best remembered for her kindness, patience, and love.

Joyce is survived by Cynthia Dowd of Canton, Ohio, David D. Dowd III (Augusta) of Birmingham, Alabama, and Douglas Dowd (Lori) of St. Louis, Missouri, as well as grandchildren Bevan, Grace, Daniel, David (IV), Andrew, Stephanie, and Maxwell, and great-grandchildren Clarke, Griffin, and Katana. She was preceded in death by husband David and son Mark (2022).

A memorial service will be organized by the family later in the year.