Mawmaw Dot, Stories From My Dad

Dorris Ann Bowman Winters was born in to the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, and had a wonderful family. She married Don Winters and had six daughter, one son, about thirty grandchildren, and eighty great grandchildren that she was able to meet and love before she passed on. Maw Maw Dot was Dad’s favorite grandmother.  Probably because she lived with dad’s family when he was about eight years old and then again when he was a teenager. He had the opportunity to spend more time with her.  She was the best cook and always made the best food.  She knew how to spoil all her grandchildren and always make them feel special.  Dad has many special memories of her.  

He remembers how Maw Maw loved the holidays and especially Christmas.  She would always put her Christmas decorations up the 1^st of November and leave them up until January 2^nd! She decorated the inside and out of her house in grand fashion as she kept collecting more decorations over the years.  All the grandchildren loved Maw Maw’s Winter Wonderland! She said time went by so fast that she had to get them up so she could enjoy them before it was time to take them down. 

Dad remembers buying a box of chocolate covered cherries for Maw Maw when he was about 12-years-old and wrapping it up for her Christmas present.  She loved chocolate covered cherries at Christmas.  As years went by and Dad wanted to buy Maw Maw better gifts, he would always include a box of Chocolate Cherries for Christmas as a gift.  Maw Maw always said that was her favorite gift from Dad.  Maw Maw always knew how to make each grandchild feel special!

Dad would help Maw Maw with chores at her house when he was a teenager and in college when he came home in the summers.  He would help her mow her grass and always wash and wax her car.  When dad was in high school Maw maw would have him wash her car and give him money when she taught he was going out to do things on the weekend.  Dad would tell her that he did not want her to pay him that he liked helping her because he loved her.  Maw Maw Dot would say, “Now, I know you can use a little money and this isn’t much but you are going to take it because I said so! It is not near enough pay for the job that you do for me, but I want you to take it son because I love you!”  Dad always will cherish those times that he spent helping Maw Maw Dot with her chores!