Obit of Lorenzo Dow Meek (m200) - Roger Mills County, Oklahoma

Submitted by:  Wanda Purcell   <wpurc25758@aol.com>  12 Aug 2002
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Lorenzo Dow Meek, 90, died December 22, 2000, at Ontario care center, where 
he was a resident of the Alzheimer's Speical Care Unit the past two and a 
half years.  Funeral service were held at 11 a.m., Friday at the First 
Christian Church, Vale, where he was a member.  Services were officiated by 
the Rev. Dick Scott who baptisted Dow. Burial was in Valley View Cemetery, 
Vale.  Services were under the direction of Vale's Lienkaemper Chapel.

Dow was born November 21, 1910, to Aldan and Clara Wilcox Meek in Foss, 
Oklahoma, where they farmed and raised quarter horses.  He was the second of 
three children.  The family moved to Butler, Oklahoma, when he was in high 
school.  Several years later the family moved to a ranch at Durham, 
Oklahoma.  Dow later worked in a grocery store, owned by an uncle.  He 
bought a cream and produce business in 1934 in Butler.  Dow married Zelma 
Thompson at Cordell, Oklahoma, on May 17, 1936.  They continued to live in 
Butler where their first child, Kathryn Gayle, was born.  During World War 
II the family moved to California where he worked as a shipwright.  Here his 
second child, Larry Dow, was born.  At the end of the war, the family moved 
back to Oklahoma. In August, 1945, Dow and his family moved to Vale.

In October 1945, Dow bought the Vale City Cleaner which he and his wife 
operated for 30 years before retiring.

Dow enjoyed hunting and fishing, but his first love was his quarter horse.  
He was very proud of their blood line.  He went to Oklahoma and brought back 
registered quarter horses to start his own herd.  He started a roping class 
for young men including Smilie Wilcox, Billy Evans and many others.  The 
rodeo grounds had been neglected so the young men and Dow cleaned it up and 
had regular roping sessions.  This started what led to the famous 4th of 
July Rodeo.  Dow won many roping contests around the Valley, winning many 
belt buckles.  The Idaho Stateman dubbed him the "Drug Store Cowboy" because 
he didn't wear Levis.

Dow organized the Lower Snake River Valley Quartger Horse Association, which 
he met in Parma.  He was the first president, serving for two years.  He 
served on the board of directiors for several years.  He was given a life 
membership for his contributions to the organizations.  The Vale Rodeo 
Association, also gave him a life membership and a belt buckle in 
appreciation of his work for them.

Dow was happiest when working and training his horses.  He wom several 
trophies and many ribbons from showing his horses in competition. He kept 
horses until he was 85 years old, but then had to sell them.

He was a community worker serving on many committees for the betterment of 
Vale.  He could always raise money for every project, especially the Pioneer 
Nursing Home.  He blonged to the Chamber of Commerce and served on the Vale 
City Council.

Being Grand Marshal of the Vale 4th of July Parade was the ultimate 
achievement for the long years of dedication to working for the betterment 
of Vale.

He is survived by his wife, Zelma; son Larry Dow; daughter and son-in-law, 
Gayle and Edward Eddy; four gandchildren,, Keme Henderson, James Eddy, Laren 
and Lane Meek; six great grandchildren, and a brother-in-law, Marvin 
Turbyfill.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother, and sister.

Memorials may be made to the Vale Christian Church or the church building 
fund in care of Linekaemper Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Ontario.

Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, Ok