Ishpeming - Florence Louise "Floss" (Johnson) Dawe, age 89, of 660 Elliott Ave. Ishpeming passed away while in the loving presence of her family on Saturday November 8, 2014 at UP Health System - Marquette.

Florence was born March 15, 1925 in Owosso, MI to Clayton and Hattie (Gibbs) Johnson. She was the youngest of five children and is preceded in death by her three sisters, Helen, Naomi, and Edna and one brother, Aymour. She grew up in Bancroft, MI and graduated from high school in nearby Byron, MI. Florence joined the Army Cadet Nurse Corp during WWII, graduating as a registered nurse in 1945. She continued to work at her training hospital, St. Lawrence, while living in Lansing, MI where she met her husband, Gilbert Dawe, a student at Michigan State University. They were married on July 1, 1949 and then moved to Ishpeming where Florence continued her nursing career at Ishpeming Hospital, now known as Francis A Bell Memorial Hospital.

She left her professional career in 1954 to begin raising her family. She had four children, Nancy (Dryer), Karen (Lewandowski), Kathryn, and James. In addition to being a wife and mother, Florence's mission in life was to use her nursing skills and knowledge to help others. She nursed many relatives and friends through difficult times. Florence has participated in a long-term general health study conducted by John Hopkins Medical Institute, studying medical problems with women as they go through life.

Her family was her greatest pleasure in life. She enjoyed travel and spending time at the family cottage in Gwinn. She belonged to many clubs, including bridge, reading, homemakers and sorority. She was a loyal church member of the United Presbyterian Church and was treasurer of their Memorial Fund for over 30 years.

She will be greatly missed by her children, Nancy (Mark) Dryer of Ishpeming, Karen (Ade) Lewandowski of Maplewood, MN, Kathryn Dawe of Ishpeming, James (Naomi) Dawe of Marquette, her grandchildren, Matthew Dryer, Kathryn Lewandowski, Kimberly (Ryan) Anderson, David Lewandowski, Jennifer Lewandowski, Amy (Brandon) Boesl, Eric (Natalie) Dawe, three step-grandchildren, Jesse (Tasha) Vial, Ian Vial & Paige Vial, and her great-grandchildren, Allen, Owen, Libby, and Aubrey Boesl, Jax Dawe and Shawn & Jacob Vial. Her husband, Gilbert Dawe and grandson, Andrew Dawe, preceded her in death.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00am – 12:00noon on Friday, November 14, 2014 at the United Presbyterian Church in Ishpeming. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 noon on Friday at the United Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Leon Jarvis to officiate. Entombment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens.

Memorials may be directed to the Memorial Fund at the United Presbyterian Church, 112 E. Euclid St., Ishpeming, MI 49849 in Florence's memory.

To Know Her Was to Love Her!