Excerpt from the Dayton Daily News
A memorial service celebrating the life of Lorna Dawes, former Muse Machine executive director, will take place Saturday, April 12 in downtown Dayton.
The service will begin at 2 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 125 N Wilkinson Street.
“Thank you for your support and care as we remember Lorna Dawes’s impactful life and legacy,” said Muse Machine Executive Director Ruth Reveal in an e-mail to Muse friends. “Lorna’s family invites anyone who has photos, etc. of Lorna to bring those to share and reminisce at the reception after the service.”
The Dayton arts advocate served as executive director of the Muse Machine from 1994-2002. She died Nov. 30, 2024 at age 89.
Dawes was born June 22, 1935 in Jefferson, Iowa. She grew up in Paton, a small town in western Iowa, and in the 1970s, she completed her bachelor’s degree, exploring her interests in English, education and child development. She also began her second marriage to Preston Dawes, who would be her partner for 43 years.
Her impact at Wright State University is also significant. Her obituary notes she administered the University Artist Series and Madrigal Dinners in addition to her involvement at the regional, state, and national levels with the Association of College Unions International, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, the Midwest Regional Arts Conference, the Ohio Arts Council and the Ohio Arts Presenters Network.
