"25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates." (Prov 31)

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  Dawn loved Truth, and she loved people. That was true of her in high school, and it was true of her until her last breath. 

  It is hard to articulate the loss that Dawn's death presents on this side of Heaven. We were good friends in high school, then God took us on our own paths until the last few years, when we got to joyfully reunite--with our beloved husbands in tow! 

  I am most grateful for the time I had with Dawn here, and I praise God that this is a mere interruption in our friendship; the best is, indeed, yet to come. Blest be the Tie that binds!

Two sentences from a favorite Psalm always remind me of Dawn. Whenever I add these words to emails, letters, texts, etc. Dawn comes to mind. From Psalm 118- “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

     Dawn’s life exemplified joy in living as a Christian. Just one of many examples  demonstrating to me how a Christian lives, is from being in a small church group Dawn and Gary led.  When the small group descended on a neighborhood armed with garden tools, there to help with Spring yard cleanup- we were not always welcome- some people we offered to help responded with suspicion and even hostility. Dawn was never discouraged or insulted- she assured those reluctant objects for our good works there were no strings attached we were there to help and would not even pray for them - our help was truly freely offered - with good cheer.   Even the hostile laughed with us by the time we left their yard- with no prayers offered. Dawn always knew the Christian deed is the most sincere prayer.

    Some lose faith when faced with the tragedies Dawn, Gary, and family experienced. I’m sure Harris family will not - Dawn’s faith and example rooted faith deeply and firmly. 

    Loss of Dawn on earth is nearly incomprehensible— my deep, deep condolences to you all. The names Dawn and Gary have been like one name, to me. While there are no words to relieve your pain- please know I, and many others, grieve with you. Dawn touched many lives and remains in our hearts, as well.

When we first heard the news of our dear friend Dawn’s passing, we were deeply shocked and saddened. We deeply mourn the loss of Dawn and extend our heartfelt condolences to Gary and the family.

Dawn and Gary opened their home to international students staring from summer of 2006. At the invitation of Guang and Mindy, Feng and I, along with many other international students began attending Bible study at their house every Saturday. We started reading the Bible together and had many meaningful discussions. I am so grateful, as this was the beginning of my spiritual journey. 

Before each Bible study, we would share a meal, and Dawn would prepare delicious dishes, especially lots of desserts. Dawn was always smiling and kind to everyone, and made us feel the warmth of home, even in a foreign country. Also, the love and harmony between Dawn and Gary, along with their loving and disciplined approach to raising their children, made a deep impression on me. It showed me what a Christ-centered family looks like. Their example served as a beautiful testimony that sparked my own interest in Christianity and influenced my decision to follow Christ later on.

Dawn and Gary showed their care for us international students not just in words, but through their loving actions. When my daughter was born, Dawn and Mindy organized a baby shower for us, thoughtfully preparing many gifts for our newborn and helping us navigate the challenges of parenthood. Later, as we were preparing to graduate and leave Ames, moving was particularly difficult because Feng had sprained his foot and I had just given birth. It was Dawn and Gary, along with their children, who came to our aid, helping us clean and move. Even after 15 years, we still feel deeply touched and grateful for their kindness. Dawn and Gary not only introduced us to the truths of the Bible, but also showed us the love that flows from God.

Although it’s incredibly sad, knowing that Dawn is now resting from her earthly labor and has returned to her heavenly home to be with Jesus brings us comfort. We look forward to the day we will reunite with her in heaven.

With sincere sympathy and yet rejoicing,

Vivian

Something I love about growing up attending the same church all my life is having so many faithful men and women who I consider spiritual parents. Even those I don’t get to do life with I still see their faithful service and showing up each week. Dawn was and still is one of those faithful examples I’ve watched for the past 22 years of my life. Although I never knew her closely I experienced her faithfulness and care from a far. 

When Eli was a senior in high school I was in middle school but I remember Dawn would still participate in our small groups. Looking back I realize how much of a sacrifice that was considering she could have easily moved on from youth group. I don’t remember specific things she said but I do remember that there were a lot of times she would say things about the passage or message that made it click in my brain. I’ve been so blessed by her willingness to give her time and share her thoughts with little middle school girls like me. 

Because I am only 22 I have not faced very much death in my life yet. This is a huge blessing but I have been very thankful to witness my church family at Stonebrook model how to grieve with hope. On the night of the accident my mom texted that Dawn was with Jesus. She didn’t say that Dawn had died. I realized at a deeper level that as a Christian I will never truly die. What my mom shared is true! Dawn didn't die really she actually was more alive than ever before. But the tears still come because we lost her here on earth. 

Nothing on this earth is without purpose because it is all in the hands of our good and perfect Father. He is using this sudden and devastating loss to remind me to number my days and I’m deeply thankful for the ways he’s working in and through such painful and sad circumstances. Praise God that he will wipe away every tear from his children’s eyes and make everything new. Until that day we will miss the beautiful woman of God, Dawn.

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” -I Thessalonians 4:14 

Gary and family, 

Please accept my heartfelt condolences for your loss. 

Bhooshan Karnik 

We are heartbroken for you, Gary, Gabe, Moriah, Tabitha, Eli and family. We have many fond memories of Dawn, most of them involving her cheerfully serving us: made me her delicious Almond cake for my birthday, watched our kids so many times - one of which included taking Mitch to the ER when a tool fell on his head and he needed staples, comforting him through that. 

We remember a funny story attesting to her being a farm girl - the dog kept killing chickens, so of course, as any good farm girl would do, you tie the dead chicken to the dogs neck so he learns not to do that!  

Dawn set a high standard of what it is to serve people, to love the Lord, and to love your neighbor as yourself; and to do it so cheerfully, from the heart.  God’s sweet comfort to you, as only He can provide, in her loss here on this earth. 

We love you all, 

Hank and Wendy 

My husband called me early on Saturday morning to tell me the news of Dawn’s passing. By the time the afternoon rolled around, the shock had started to wear off and a variety of emotions set in. Grief, anger, and most notably, a feeling of injustice. I asked myself the question that most Christians do in these circumstances: Does God know  how much death hurts us? Does he care?

And just like that, a memory stirred. Dawn gave me the answer. In fact, she had given it to me over a decade ago, in Youth Group.

When I was an upperclassman in high school, Dawn was often the leader of our small group discussions. Though this usually meant we would go long, I didn’t mind. I grew up with nightly Bible studies in my family, so by the time I was nearing the end of high school, I was believed (very mistakenly) that I knew scripture in and out and there wasn’t much more for me to learn (lol). But Dawn had a way of consistently challenging that.

One week we had just read over the story of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. I think that you can tell a lot about a person by how much they can think about and elaborate on a single verse. In this case, it was probably the most difficult verse to elaborate on: John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”

Two words. Pretty straightforward. And yet Dawn asked, “Why do you think Jesus wept?”

At first, it seemed like low-hanging fruit. One of us piped up, “we all cry when someone we love passes away. We’ll miss them.”

Then Dawn got this glimmer in her eye. “But what happens next in this story?”

We all looked at each other. “Jesus raises him from the dead?”

“Right. So, do you think Jesus was crying because he missed him? Do you think he was mourning for someone he knew was coming back in a couple minutes?”

I was struck. When I looked at it this way, what had been so straightforward was suddenly nuanced. Yet John had recorded it, short and simple. Jesus wept. I just didn’t know why.

“I have to wonder,” Dawn started, “if Jesus was watching Mary and Martha grieve their brother. I wonder if he was watching Lazarus’s friends cry over his tomb. And I wonder, if in that moment, Jesus felt not for Lazarus, but for those left behind. Jesus saw firsthand the grief and the pain that death brings, and maybe that is the reason Jesus wept.”

This small shift reframed that story for me.   And each time I read it, I remember that night in youth group when Dawn reminded me that there’s a reason we’re told to mediate on scripture day and night. A straightforward answer may only indicate that we haven’t spent enough time with it yet.

But I think it’s also important to note that Jesus didn’t just cry. He was a man of action, and he was not content letting death be our tormentor forever. Dawn gave me the answer to the question of whether God knows how much death hurts us. Jesus gave me the answer to whether he cares. John 3:16 tells us that God sent his only son to defeat death forever, because he loves us. Death is not the end for us, and it’s certainly not the end for Dawn.

As C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

Words cannot express how deeply sorrowful we, the Younkins, have been in hearing the news of Dawn's passing. You all go way back with us. For me, I started working at ISU in March of 1986 and joined the church. This is when I met Gary and Dawn. Gary would visit me when I worked at the International Office. Dawn and Gary were active in the student group while I was in the young pros.

Fast forward to your twins, to the birth of Gabe, and then Moriah when we were in the hospital together with our twins, birth of Tab, and then Eli too. We enjoyed visiting you out in the country with your chickens and your white cats. Then your move to Grand Avenue with serving so many internationals each Saturday night and when Honghua and Haitao and Alysa Cheng came into your (and our) lives. Then your move to Top O'Hollow Road.

I have appreciated serving with you both on the Welcome Team. Dawn's presence at the Welcome Center was such a welcoming presence. And Gary's serving right alongside her in joy and purpose. I enjoyed watching you both worshipping together at Stonebrook. You were always together, sitting side by side. I cannot remember a time when you were not together.

Life goes on they say. Yet life as we know it here on earth has changed. With tears flowing down my cheeks I want to let you know that the heartfelt sadness in this life change is very difficult. With the promise that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted, we go forward, praising God for the life well-lived.

Dawn has told me in the past that when she grew up she would like to be like Debbie Younkin. She has far excelled any example I might have set. She will continue to be an example to all who knew her, as well as to those who will hear about her life and legacy.

With deepest sympathy and yet rejoicing,

Debbie Younkin 

I’m so very sorry for your loss.  Dawn was loved by many and will be dearly missed .Hold on to the memories you all shared together.  Anja, Dawns sister, is my daughter in law.  So I have known her for close to 25 years. 

My heart goes out to the family.

My prayers to the families. I first met Dawn when my mom Vicki (Parks) Feldman, my brother Jeremy, and I moved to Ames when I was a child. I think I was around 11 years old or so then, and my mom became friends with Dawn and many others when we started going to church there, this was before it was called Stonebrook! I’ve known Dawn and Gary since then, so over 30 years I believe. 

I remember being a teenager in the late 90s into the early 2000s, and how Dawn took a special interest in the other teen girls (and myself), at youth group. She tried to help us through the stages of self-identity that we were going through and how the lord fit into that. That’s one thing I will always remember about her. 

She was such a kind and sweet woman, and even if you weren’t her kid, she treated you no different than her own. I have so many memories of her, it’s hard to jot them all down. Just know she made a difference in young people’s lives, and we never forgot that. Much love and light!