Dorothy Schaff Mowen

Dorothy D. Schaff Mowen, 83, of St. Thomas, PA, passed away Monday, July 5, 2021, in Chambersburg Hospital. Born September 2, 1937, in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late William D. and Georgie (Heatwole) Schaff.

She attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., graduating with the Class of 1955. Dot was an active member of the Kappa Beta Psi sorority making lifelong friends. Awarded an honorary WW in Art from Woodrow Wilson High, she designed the end pages for the yearbook and the class logo, the baby tiger mascot. This passion and practice of art continued throughout her life.
Dorothy married her first husband, Thomas B. Sims, October 14, 1955, and followed him to Canada. They later moved to Saginaw, MI, where she raised her four children. In 1989 she and her late husband, Gary D. Mowen, moved to Misty Meadows Farm in St. Thomas, PA.

Dorothy was active in the Methodist Church in Washington, Canada and Michigan. She served as a Sunday school teacher and assisted in the nursery. She was also a Girl Scout Leader for several years, especially enjoying working with the girls helping them earn crafting, sewing, and embroidery badges. She was a member of Job’s Daughters, a life-member of the VFW Auxiliary.

She was an extremely talented artist winning a Gold Key Art Award, selling around the country, and illustrating a book cover. Over the years, Dottie enjoyed taking classes and learning about various styles and crafts including using oils and acrylics, tole painting, and folk art on canvas. She even carved apple head dolls and custom made their clothing, becoming a featured artist in the Public Opinion newspaper. However, she was still often heard saying her best works of art were her four children.

For 20 years, she was employed as a Certified Nurse’s Aide at South Mountain Restoration Center, South Mountain, PA, retiring in 1998. The title she was most proud of, however, was Mother. A loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, her family meant the world to her.

She is survived by three children, William F. Sims and his wife Gina of San Antonio, TX; Suzie Sims-Fletcher of Astoria, NY; Thomas R. Sims and his wife Penny of Gettysburg, PA; nine grandchildren: Kim Anderson and George Sims of San Antonio; Brittonie Fletcher of Edinburgh, Scotland; Trystan Fletcher of Baltimore, MD; Rustin Landis and Richard Landis, of Chambersburg, PA; Sienna Landis of Harrisburg, PA; Shenandoah Sims of Wyomissing, PA; and Ian Sims of Pittsburgh, PA. She was also proud of her four great-grandchildren and her long-time companion, her dog, Pugsley.

n addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Gary D. Mowen; her daughter, Sharon Sims-Landis; and her sister, Chloris “Co-co” Schaff Barnes.

Services will be held 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in the Chapel of the Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA, 17202 with Rev. Dr. Robert Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Parklawns Memorial Gardens, Chambersburg, PA.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Monday evening in the funeral home as well as one hour prior to the service Tuesday morning in the funeral home.

Flowers are welcome. Memorial contributions may be made to Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, 5051 Letterkenny Road, Chambersburg, PA, 17201.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.geiselfuneralhome.com.