Nina (Scoville) Dawson Obituary
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Nina (Scoville) Dawson (Grove City, Ohio), born in Lexington, Kentucky, who passed away on May 24, 2023, at the age of 82, leaving to mourn family and friends. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Nina (Scoville) Dawson to pay them a last tribute.
Nina passed peacefully at her home in Grove City, OH, just days before her 83rd birthday she was born on June 3, 1940, in Lexington, KY, to Cleta Huff and Clarence E. Scoville. Clarence like many American males soon found himself in uniform serving in Africa during WWII. Unfortunately, their union was another casualty suffered shortly after the war's end.
This led to Nina starting the first grade as a very rare child of a single working mother household. She was raised in the Baptist faith and attended bible camp during the summers. This was the birth of her thirst for learning, and retaining information as she journeyed through life.
She also would spend time in the summer months visiting with her father and stepmother. During this time, she would spend time taking art classes. Which is where she found her love of drawing with charcoal, and pencil. A joy she maintained the rest of her days.
Nina began to blossom into a beautiful, intelligent young woman who graduated from Boca Ciega High School, and moved onto University of Kentucky studying, and serving an apprenticeship in the field of mortuary sciences. Something relatively unheard of near the end of the 1950's. She also dabbled with an occasional job as a fashion model in local advertisement during this time. Which led to her being selected as a "Long Stem Rose" riding the float in a parade in Jacksonville, FL.
This coincided with the reality of the fact that her chosen field of mortuary science, was not actually an open door for her gender. So, she peeled a couple of inches off her height, and joined the friendly skies of United Airlines as a stewardess by 1960. This was a short-lived career after she met and married Charles Seward Dawson in 1962, which was against company policy at that time. Just a year after her mother had remarried again to Mr. Quinn Beal. (fondly known as 'Poppy' to Nina)
Charles spotted a beautiful woman wearing a large rectangular onyx ring in a grocery store and inquired about her identity. Thankfully, his very own secretary had the answers, leading Charles to pursue Nina and they were married in 1962. They embarked on a journey together, sharing their lives across various cities including Jacksonville, FL, Monroe, LA, New Orleans, LA, Memphis, TN and Columbus, OH. They were blessed with two children, Charles Huff Dawson and Mary Leslie Dawson. Nina was a devoted and remarkable mother to her children.
Because Nina had lost her sense of smell as a child, she did all her preparations by taste, and made her both an excellent cook, and baker. In the latter half of her life, with her children grown, and her marriage dissolved, she was providing domestic services for a few lucky families, and occasionally catering special events for a fortunate few. Serving stuffed mushrooms, Swedish meatballs, and baby quiche that were to die for. She truly was a very giving person, who would give you the shirt off her back, and then apologize, because it did not match the color of your eyes.
In 1990, Nina crossed paths with Randall McFarland, and from that moment, they became inseparable. Their love for one another was unwavering, and they provided constant care and support until the end. They shared cherished moments together in Columbus, OH, Clearwater, FL, Tampa, FL, Sarasota, FL, and finally returning to Ohio for the remainder of her life.
Randall McFarland says, "I was very fortunate to share this time with her, not only because she loved me, but she taught me how to truly love, and care for someone, who became more important than life itself. My hope is that you too have been touched by her."
Nina was preceded in death by her father, Clarence E. Scoville; stepmother, Edith Scoville; mother, Cleta Beal; stepfather, Quentin Beal; brother, Arthur Scoville; and brother, Chuck Scoville. She is survived by her devoted life partner of 33 years, Randall McFarland; his daughter, Sarah McFarland; her son, Charles Huff Dawson, and daughter-in-law, Brenda Mickey of Columbus, OH; her daughter, Mary Leslie Dawson, and her beloved grand-kitty Boris of Clearwater, FL; her granddaughter, Shelby Coddington; her sister, Sandra Webb, and husband Floyd; and her nieces and nephews: Buddy (Floyd IV) Webb, Ashley Webb Sheffield, Zachary Webb, Tyler Webb and his wife Sophie, Gregory Scoville, and Mark Scoville. She also leaves behind numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Event will be held in honor of Nina's 84th birthday on June 3, 2024. Please reach out via call or text at 727-580-7777 for further details.
May the memories of Nina's vibrant spirit, love, and laughter bring comfort to all who knew and loved her.
