Obituary: Shields, Cindra B.
Age 56
(Age 56) Cindra passed away on Friday, January 11, 2013 at Hospice House of Spokane, after a brief yet courageous battle with kidney cancer.
Cindra was born Cindra Bernice Dossey on December 14, 1956 in Stockton, California.
She graduated from Dixon High School and attended Sacramento City College.
Cindra, the quintessential entrepreneur, was always interested in art and spent most of her career years as a free-lance graphic artist.
She started her design business, Graphic Business Systems, when she was raising her children in Redondo Beach, California.
Of all her roles in life, the one that was most dear to her was that of mother to Christopher and Victoria.
From the time they were born she was a caring, doting, self-help reading, volunteering and loving mother.
Cindra began an affiliation with the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce, one she would continue and transfer to the Spokane Valley Chamber when she relocated her family to the area in 2003.
In conjunction with The Spokane Homebuilders Association, Cindra created and published the premier home-improvement magazine in the area, Remodel Spokane.
The magazine ultimately became a family affair, involving most of her relatives in some aspect of planning, writing, editing, and promoting the publication.
In her rare spare time Cindra enjoyed interior design, cooking, crafting, gardening and recently with her partner Gary, most every outdoor endeavor.
Cindra was a hard and dedicated worker in all regards, but she still had time to give back to her community through her work with The Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Women Business Owners, and Rotary International.
Besides the character traits of dedication and philanthropy, Cindra was hysterically funny, and was known for her unique sense of humor and pranks.
Cindra’s life became complete when she met her partner Gary Bowe, who is a fellow member of the Spokane Valley Rotary.
Over the last two years Cindra and Gary enjoyed much love, fun and companionship while still finding time to be integral volunteers in the Rotary mission.
They recently moved to a lovely, rustic home overlooking the Little Spokane River in Deer Park.
Cindra was preceded in death by her beloved mother Dorothy Martin.
She is survived by her son Christopher, daughter Victoria and son-in-law Matthew, partner Gary Bowe, father Donald Dossey and step-mother Lois Dossey, step-father Mel Martin, sisters Pam Long, Machelle Kelchner, Cathlene Baugher, and Collette Gardner, brother Victor Dossey, and many nieces and nephews.
The constant stream of visitors and well-wishers during her last three months is a testament to how much Cindra meant to her family, colleagues and dear friends.
Cindra’s memorial service will take place at 2 PM on Saturday, January 26th at the Millwood Presbyterian Church, 3223 North Marguerite Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99212.
You may visit her online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.caringbridge.org/visit/cindrashields.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to either Hospice of Spokane or Valley Rotary Charitable Association Scholarship Fund.