Dawn Elaine Prentice Jarvis, 82, Kokomo, passed away June 7, 2022. Dawn was born on March 23, 1940, in Logansport, Indiana. She was the youngest daughter of Homer E. and Besse L. (Graham) Prentice. On August 16, 1982, she married Jimmie M. Jarvis, who preceded her death on September 13, 2018.
Dawn graduated from Logansport High School in 1958 and was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She completed courses at School of Vision in Chicago, Illinois in 1959. She then returned to Logansport and began her 50-year career as a certified optician. In 1963, Dawn moved to Kokomo, Indiana, and continued her career. She worked for several ophthalmologists and optometrists before deciding to venture out and open her own business, Dawn’s Optique. She had quite the following of patients from her years of prior dispensing of eyewear. People would drive for miles to buy their eyeglasses from Dawn. She retired in 2009. After her husband passed in 2018, she moved to Austin, Texas, to be closer to her daughter.
Dawn was a devout Christian woman and was passionate about helping others. She was a huge supporter of We Care of Kokomo and helped raise money for the Alligator Club which supported children with disabilities. For many years she gave her time visiting nursing homes and repairing or replacing eyeglasses for the residents, using donated frames through the Lion’s Club. Dawn enjoyed gardening, cooking, and loved preparing and serving biscuits and gravy breakfasts to visiting family and especially at large church gatherings or fund raisers. She also enjoyed listening to live country music.
Dawn is survived by her son, Brian (Vickie) Boyd; daughter, Lori (Scott) Murphy; grandchildren, Austin (Brooke) Boyd, Alexander (Judilynn) Boyd, Arlon Boyd, Nathaniel (Emily) Murphy and Chelsea (Christopher) Gonzales; great-grandchildren, Abram, Jordan, Levi, Georgia and Evelyn; brother, Barry (Connie) Prentice; sister, Sandra Funk; stepchildren, Jimmie (Sherri) Jarvis, Gregory (Mary) Jarvis and Diana (Lowell) Evans; 15 step-grandchildren and 29 step-great-grandchildren.
Dawn was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Marlon Prentice; sister, Audrey Prentice; brother-in-law, Clive Funk; sister-in-law, Connie Prentice; and stepsons, Rick Jarvis and Jeffrey Jarvis.
She will be sorely missed by her family and friends and all who knew her. The family is especially grateful for the wonderful care she received from all of her caregivers and staff at both Cedar Point Health and Wellness in Cedar Park, Texas, and Heart to Heart Hospice in Austin, Texas. We were all blessed by your compassion and love for Dawn.
Funeral services will be held at Noon on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at First Church of the Nazarene, 2734 S. Washington, Kokomo, with Pastor Dianne Wagner officiating. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10 a.m. to Noon on Tuesday at the church. Contributions may be made in Dawn’s memory to the First Church of the Nazarene or Bona Vista. Messages of condolence may be made online at www.shirleyandstout.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Shirley & Stout Funeral Homes, Kokomo.
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