Feb. 6, 1921 — Dec. 29, 2014

Dawn F. Woods, of Cassopolis, died peacefully in the arms of her son and daughter on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014.

Born Feb. 6, 1921, in Cassopolis, Dawn was the youngest child of Floyd and Olive (Shanafelt) Fisher, former owners of Fisher Hardware in downtown Cassopolis. Her parents preceded her in death, as did her sister, Wilma Fisher Grant, her brother, Drexel Fisher, and her infant granddaughter, Julia Woods. In addition to her human family, Dawn was predeceased by two beloved feline companions, Bill Bailey and Molly Maguire.

Dawn’s early years were spent in Cassopolis, living in a bungalow on 2nd Street, in a home across from Stone Lake and, eventually, above her parents store on Broadway. Graduation from high school in 1938 brought drastic changes for her. A job offer brought her to Baltimore where she lived with her sister and brother – in – law. Then, as did many women in the early 1940’s, Dawn assisted WWII initiatives by filling jobs normally occupied by men. She moved to Seattle to work with an aircraft supplier to the military. She was in the process of earning a pilot’s license when the war ended and women were no longer needed to fly aircraft from the factories to the military bases. Life took her back to Cassopolis where she married and raised a family. At the age of 50, Dawn returned to the workforce where she could apply her penchant for figures by serving as a bookkeeper, first for a medical practice in San Diego, California, and then for Wolverine Brass in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from which she retired in 1986.

During retirement Dawn enjoyed spending time with friends, watching Detroit Tigers baseball and Red Wing hockey, listening to opera on the radio, watching and feeding birds, and especially spoiling her cat. In 2003 she moved from Grand Rapids back to the Cassopolis area and lived there for the rest of her life.

Dawn is survived by her daughter, Karen W. Current of Cassopolis, her son, Jeff A. (Kathy) Woods of Lexington, KY; five grandchildren, Jennifer (Peter) Conniff of Otsego, Michigan, Lisa (Steve) Parker of Okemos, Michigan, Sarah (Perryn) Woods-Mifflin of Anderson SC, Leah Woods of Lexington, and Emily (Charles) Krebs of Lexington. She is also survived by six great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and her feline companion, Mary O’Riley.

Because she believed medical science has much to learn about caring for the elderly, she made a gift of her body to the MSU School of Medicine. The family will have a private memorial gathering.

The family suggests any memorial contributions be made to an animal rescue organization of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.