Leona "Dottie" Barbara Towery

Leona “Dottie” Barbara Towery, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2025, at 5:45 a.m., with her loving daughter by her side. She was 86 years old.

Born on December 7, 1938, in Wadena, Minnesota, Dottie was the youngest of twelve children born to Ludwig-Louis Frank Uselman and Elizabeth Marie Uselman (Hanebuth). Growing up in a large and close-knit family instilled in her a deep sense of love and connection that she carried throughout her life. After graduating from Wadena High School, she pursued her passion for helping others by attending St. Gabriel’s School of Nursing. This marked the beginning of a lifelong career as a registered nurse—a vocation through which she touched countless lives with compassion and care.

Dottie’s nursing journey began in Minnesota but her career would take her far beyond its borders. As the wife of Furman Gary Towery, whom she married on September 9, 1961, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Wadena, Dottie embraced a life filled with adventure and service. Gary’s career in the Foreign Service meant their family traveled extensively around the world. Over the span of 27 years she served as a nurse in Spartanburg, India, Afghanistan, Liberia, Washington D.C., Oman, Ghana, and Lesotho. She ended her career volunteering at St. Luke’s Clinic in Spartanburg, SC until 2001. Together they built a life rooted in faith and love while experiencing diverse cultures and creating cherished memories.

Their love story began when Dottie was in nursing school and Gary was stationed in Minnesota with the Air Force. Their union became the foundation of a family that would grow to include two children: Lisa Towery Dean (Paul R. Dean) and Michael Wayne Towery; six grandchildren: Grady Towery (Briana Wright Towery), Tisha Towery, Rebecca Hutchins (Kyle Hutchins), Elizabeth Mannella (Isaac Mannella), Grace Collins, and Jacob Towery Collins (2001–2024); and six great-grandchildren: John Paul Mannella, Monica Mannella, Hannah Mannella, Haleigh Mannella, Luke Hutchins, and Brie Hutchins.

After retirement Dottie and Gary retired to Woodruff, SC where Dottie became a very active member of Jesus Our Risen Savior Catholic Church and, an active member in the Republican Party and volunteering at St. Luke’s. Dottie was a member of the Women’s Regnum Christi Team of Spartanburg for more than 25 years. She loved deeply and selflessly, gave of herself tirelessly and served all around her without ever a complaint.

Although she was a quiet person, she was a force to be reckoned with. When she witnessed something that was not right, she would find a way to fix it. That toughness was likely the result of being the youngest of 12 siblings, where she learned how to handle things. That said, as tough as she was, if you wanted to make Dottie cry all you had to do was pay her a surprise visit. She would welcome you with open arms and tears flowing.

Dottie’s life was defined by her unwavering faith in God and her boundless kindness toward others. She possessed a quiet strength that inspired those around her and an open heart that welcomed everyone she met. Her devotion to her family was evident in every aspect of her life. She modeled daily complete trust and faith in God and lived her beautiful Catholic Faith fully in all that she did.

She is survived by her husband, Furman Gary Towery, her children; Lisa Towery Dean(Paul R. Dean), and Michael Wayne Towery; six grandchildren; Grady Towery (Briana Wright Towery), Tisha Towery, Rebecca Hutchins (Kyle Hutchins), Elizabeth Mannella (Isaac Mannella), Grace Collins (Nicholas Banks), two step grandchildren; Cameron Dean, and Wyatt Dean, six great-grandchildren; John Paul Mannella, Monica Mannella, Hannah Mannella, Haleigh Mannella, Luke Hutchins, and Brie Hutchins, a sister in law, Ann Towery, nephew’s; Scott Towery (Elizabeth Towery), and Rusty Towery, great nephew’s; Gus Dean (Briar Dean), and Cooper Towery, great niece, Savannah Springer (Garrett Springer), her son in law’s mother, Virginia Dean, and her son in law’s brother, Charlie Dean (Anne Dean).

In addition to her parents, Dottie was preceded in death by her grandson, Jacob Towery Collins, her siblings; Francis-Frank John Uselman, Mary-Marie Louise Uselman (Walz), George James Uselman, Nicholas Simon Uselman, Leo Benedict Uselman, Thomas Peter Uselman, Peter-Spitz Edward Uselman, Elizabeth-Betty Agnes Uselman (Ronayne), Cecelia-Lori Loretta Uselman (Brauch), Emelda-Susie Anna Uselman (Ditsworth), Michael Louis Uselman, her Father-in-law, Grady Towery, her Mother-in-law, Gladys Towery, and her son in laws father, Charles Dean. 

Bluffton- A Visitation, Prayer & Rosary Service will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025 from 4PM-6PM, at Saul’s Funeral Home, 90 Simmonsville Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910.

Spartanburg- A second Visitation, Prayer & Rosary Service will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 5PM-7PM, at the J.M. Dunbar Funeral Home, 690 Southport Rd, Roebuck, SC 29376. A Mass of Christian Burial will then take place on Friday, February 7, 2025, 10AM, at Jesus Our Risen Savior Catholic Church, 2575 Reidville Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29301. The family will receive guests in the church hall following the service. Burial will then follow at 2 PM, in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29307.

May Leona “Dottie” Barbara Towery rest eternally in peace and may her memory bring comfort to all who loved her.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Dottie may be made to: St. Lukes Free Medical Clinic, P.O. Box 3466 Spartanburg, SC 29304, or to Catholic Radio in SC, catholicradioinsc.com.