Aggie Mowry

Miss me, but let me go. Celebrate my freedom from MSA.

Obituary

AAgnes (Aggie) Barbara Lammerts van Bueren was born on Wednesday, November 18th, 1959 in Maracaibo, Venezuela to a Dutch father, Pier Lammerts van Bueren, and an English mother, Jean Lammerts Van Bueren-Smith. Her family moved back to the Netherlands in 1961, and Aggie was raised in Heemstede in Holland. Aggie was “number 4 of 5 children” with 3 older siblings, Edith, Gijs, Jean, and one younger sibling, John. After a long disease process with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), she died peacefully in her home on Wednesday, February 26th, 2025, surrounded by family and friends.

Aggie knew as a teenager that she wanted to be a nurse. She studied to be a nurse straight out of high school, then went to London for midwifery training. In 1981, she went to India to serve as a Nazarene Missionary Midwife. After two six-month terms in Maharashtra, she attended Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City. She came to the USA in June of 1986, promising her family she would never marry an American man, LOL. She met George Douglas (Doug) Mowry in a class that fall. They went on their first date in December 1986 and immediately knew - this was something special. They were married in the Netherlands on June 29, 1987.

They had three children, Sarah Jean Mowry (1989), George Timothy Mowry (1990), and Hannah Sharon Mowry (1996). Aggie served as a nurse helping women get through labor for 42 years, and worked as a nurse in the Netherlands, England, India, Uganda, and within the United States in Kansas, California, and Washington states. The bulk of her career was spent in Tri Cities, Washington. She worked at Kadlec Medical Center from 1994 - 2018 and Trios 2018-2023. Aggie was also known in the community as the leader of Rada Rabbits and Cavies 4-H Youth Club for over two decades, served as rabbit barn superintendent at the Benton County Fair for many years, and many other service roles within the rabbit community.

Aggie ran Pregnancy and Infant Loss programs, first Our Little Lambs at Kadlec and then Gone Too Soon through the Tri-City Chaplaincy. She was passionate about caring for families as they mourned a loss that was for years ‘not talked about,’ helping them understand that processing grief of any loss is real and important. Aggie empathized with each family who grieved this unique loss, having experienced a miscarriage herself. If you or someone you know is seeking support, the Gone Too Soon program is still active in the Tri-Cities (Facebook).

In August of 2020 on one of Aggie’s 500+ hikes on Badger Mountain, she felt something wasn’t quite right with her body. After months of questions and many appointments with many doctors, she was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in June 2022. After a year of not responding to Parkinson’s medication, in May 2023 she was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a degenerative neurological disease very similar to ALS. Aggie documented her journey with MSA in a public YouTube series, titled “Aggie’s MSA Account” (5 videos, app. 10min each). Aggie said, “MSA has entered my life, uninvited, overwhelming, with such an unexpected speed. Despite that, I still feel I have been given the gift of time.” Dozens of friends, family, and colleagues, “Aggie’s Allied Angels,” offered tremendous support to her through this time as her physical capacities decreased - but her mind and spirit never faltered.

Aggie was known for being energetic, tireless, loving, generous, fun, and immensely productive - traits that all carried through even during her journey with MSA. She knew her time was short, and she used that time to make sure the people in her life knew how much she loved and appreciated them. She organized her memorial service, and helped create this site. There will be a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, April 12th at 1:00 pm at the Richland Church of the Nazarene (2500 Jericho Rd), with a reception to follow. Aggie requests that all who are able to support research of MSA and one day find a cure may donate online at defeatmsa.org. She wrote in the last weeks of her life, “And so ends a life well lived.” Her spirit lives on as she is survived by many loving family & friends - too numerous to list.

Donate

Aggie requests that all who are able to support research of MSA and one day find a cure may donate online at https://defeatmsa.org

Timeline

Gallery

Videos

Memory wall

April 19, 2025

Aggie is my angel. She appeared when I was in an absolute mess. Through her care and encouragement, I climbed out of my misery and started a new life. I am deeply saddened that she is no longer with us, but I know she is with my little precious in heaven. Thank you, Aggie, for visiting the earth and touching our lives!

Sherry Xie

April 13, 2025

Aggie was a guiding light in my daughter Kelsi’s life, therefore my life! She will live on forever in our daily lives as she cheers Kelsi on from heaven.

Lynn R Baldwin

April 12, 2025

Circa 2002/03

Shayna Kurina

April 12, 2025

I just wanted to express how wonderful Aggie was she was such a wonderful person who was able to just make you feel like you were family when you were in her presents. She was such a loving person who gave her all to all she touch. We are so sorry for your loss but I know she will be watching over all of us who knew her and how she touch each person life.

Pam Maiden

April 12, 2025

So sorry to hear about Aggie's passing. She was such a great friend to my mom (Carol Schwegel). I will never forget all the times she checked on me during my mom's illness. Always a bright smile whenever I talked to her. Your impact on the community will never be forgotten. I know my mom will be greeting you when you get to heaven. Thank you for being a bright spot in so many lives, including all the mothers you helped bring their babies into this world. Prayers to your family. FLY HIGH PRETTY LADY.

Debbie (Schwegel) Clark

April 9, 2025

Truth be told, Aggie was a chaplain disguised as a nurse. As a hospital chaplain myself, I worked alongside Aggie caring for families experiencing perinatal loss. In the intimate pain at bedsides, or at annual community memorial services, her ministry of honest and compassionate hands-on and heart-full caring was manifest, and a wonder and privilege to behold. As a result of her labors of love, there are a lot of families who are much healthier than they otherwise would have been. God's healing grace to Doug and eternal peace to Ag.

Timothy Ledbetter

March 10, 2025

In 1982 Aggie and I joined a class of 8 trainee midwives in the UK where we became friends. We shared a love of Jesus and a desire to care for others – this is reflected in Aggie’s support of those who lost little ones.
After we qualified, I was able to visit Aggie at home in the Netherlands and meet some of her family including her parents. Then she was off to the US and I was off to the OM ship MV Doulos as ship's nurse and midwife.
Aggie and Doug married 2 weeks after us in 1987 but came to our wedding – with a Gouda cheese as a wedding present! Their 3 children are similar in ages to ours and I’m so glad of the internet to cross the distances and see the family growing up.
I have watched Aggie’s courageous walk with MSA and so glad that she is now with her Jesus. May God hold Doug, and all their family, during this poignant time.

Caryl Boxhall

March 3, 2025

Aggie was the first friend of Cheryl’s (Kulas) that I met when Cheryl and I were dating. She became more special as so many meaningful stories came out and as I too experienced her care for others. I miss you Aggie. Thank you for your beautiful life❤️

Larry Morris

February 28, 2025

I’ll never forget Aggie. She delivered my son because there were no Drs available. She tried to call, she was training another nurse and my baby wasn’t going to wait. It was only her and she made me feel safe. I knew everything would be fine. I’d wished she’d delivered all my children! Gone too soon, but what an amazing life she lived!

Jen Schneider

February 28, 2025

I did not know Aggie, but after watching “Aggie’s MSA Account” videos I can ascertain that she was a beautiful soul. I loved her determination and attitude …….."Not fighting, Negotiating”. Thank you for sharing these videos.
My heart and prayers go out to the family. I lost my beloved husband, Steve, to MSA 3 1/2 years ago and I completely understand the pain and suffering that the family goes through. I pray that your happy memories will guide you through this difficult grief journey. God bless you.

Marcia Lauseng

February 28, 2025

Doug gecondoleerd met het overlijden van Agnes. een hel intensieve tijd is het geweest de afgelopen jaren. Heel veel zorg en nalopen .Heel veel sterkte in de komende tijd. gelukkig heb je veel liefde van je kinderen en kleinkinderen om je heen. ik weet uit ervaring dat er wel een leegte is waar je heel erg aan moet wennen. Hoewel het gemis niet gaat wennen. het blijft. Gods zegen voor jou en allen die je lief zijn.
Freek van Wensen

Frederik.G.J. Wensen

February 27, 2025

I was talking to my husband today about Aggie and I told him that she was a "do lots of good, have lots of fun" person. We decided that she somehow fit the amount of at least 2 or 3 lifetimes into hers. I'm so grateful that I got to grow up with her as my summertime second-mom.

Lydia Dresbach

February 27, 2025

Oh goodness, what a treasure Aggie was! I met Aggie 21 years ago, almost to the day. I was in nursing clinicals at Kadlec and hugely pregnant during my rotation in OB. I was on bed rest off and on due to a crazy high blood pressure. I was young, dumb, and so nervous. During slow times, Aggie would teach me techniques to calm myself and give me back rubs. I’d never met someone so kind. This perfect stranger was treating me as if I were her own. Aggie was the epitome of grace, kindness and what you hope all nurses to be when you yourself are in a stressful situation. The world was a better place because of her. RIP Miss Aggie!

Heidi Mortensen

February 27, 2025

I met Aggie in the what was the hardest day of my life. I lost my beautiful son. She was there to be light I needed. I never felt such love from a stranger. She guided me in my darkness, helped me when I couldn’t even think straight. She handled my son with care & reminded me it was not my fault. She helped us make funeral arrangements, when we couldn’t even think straight. I knew, she had a heart of gold. Everything she did for me was straight love and passion. I attended her support group, and her light lead me through some of the hardest years of my life. 2 years later I had my daughter. As it was time to push, it was shift change. And to my surprise, in walks Beautiful Aggie. She was a sign straight from heaven. I’ll never forget. Just like she had been present at my son’s birth, she was present for the birth of my rainbow baby. I’ll never forget. Your legacy will live forever Aggie. So much love to you.

Valerie Torres

February 26, 2025

We were nervous new parents to be and our nerves were eased by our joyful and humorous nurse. After taking our picture for us all scrubbed up our nurse paused a moment and said: "Don't take offense to this, but you look like someone my son would know (at the time I had long hair and my beard)". We realized I was friends with her son! And we laughed.
In the OR while our daughter was born, mom was doing the hard work and I was a blubbering mess. Holding my phone and I should have been taking pictures and videos but I couldn't. I was flooded and bawling at this beautiful little creature in front of my. I felt a kindly hand on my shoulder and saw that blinding smile as Aggie took the phone from my hand and went to work as an amateur photographer.
Because of her we have a wealth of photos from that day.
We would run into each other every once in a while and she would always ask to see pictures of our daughter.
We will never forget her kindness, and the kindness and love that help welcome our daughter into this world.
Our love is with you all.

Jared Norberg

February 26, 2025

Aggie, you were a huge supporter of my ARBA journey in high school, but you are also a major person that I looked up to as I have pursued my medical career. The world is a better place because of you, and I really hope you know that. We didn’t even live in the same state, but you cheered me on anyways. Thank you Aggie, for what you did for me and I know countless others.

Emily Roberts

February 26, 2025

Dearest Aggie. I want you to know how deeply grateful I am for your life. Thank you for being my friend in Seminary. When you arrived in the US, I picked you up at the airport and knew we would be good, good friends. We were a part of that unique small group we had on Walden. I watched as you fell in love, so deeply and so quickly, to your complete opposite. You amazed me even then. And you have amazed me ever since. Your life symbolizes such strength to me, such perseverance, such resilience, and so much love. You have loved your children well, and the whole Mowry clan. You loved your patients. You love your friends. You love animals like God does. You have always inspired me to be a better person. You are true goodness. Being able to see you through these last 30 years has always been a joy. You are truly are one of the most remarkable people I have ever known. I will always have you in my heart. And I will always love you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for being you. PS. I have had your picture on my fridge door for decades. I will never take it down.

Diane Leclerc

February 26, 2025

First day I met Auggie I was a scared nursing student. I know OB was not the area I was interested in but she reassured me that was ok. She took me under wing and went over so many things. She thrived on teaching and supporting all around her. Thank you for teaching me and supporting me.

Mary Ellwein

February 26, 2025

Top Ten list: 10 things I love about Aggie Mowry
 
10. I love how very unsafe I felt every time I rode with Aggie in her Toyota van

9.    I love how we could go ages without seeing each other and then pick up right where we left off.

8.    I love how Aggie faithfully documented family events with video recordings including our special family memories of vacationing together at the Oregon Coast. 

7.    I love that we had a good number of Oscar parties together.  Aggie loved the gowns and fashion as much as the movies. 

6.    I love how Aggie has always been the energizer bunny.  How did you managed to work nights for all those years, come home and get the kids off to school, sleep for a few hours, and still have time for 4-H and all your other activities?

5.    I love how Aggie gave of herself to families struggling with infant loss and has touched so many lives with her compassion and love.  

4.    I love that we have decades of Mowry Family Christmas cards and letters.  They were always a highlight. I also love how they were proudly displayed on her kitchen cabinet

3.    I love Aggie’s sense of humor that has never wavered in all the 38 years I have known her.

2.    I love Aggie’s unvarnished look at MSA and that she has continued to find value in this life - even in the weeks, days and hours remaining. 

1.    I love that because of Aggie, my life and the lives of my family have been changed for good.  
 
Aggie, there is still so much left unsaid. I will not see a sunrise without thinking of you. It will feel a little dimmer knowing that you are not in this world to share it. But I will also believe that in another cosmic level you will be with me to share them.  I’m convinced that a soul as bright and beautiful as yours will continue to shine on. 

I love you and will see you again my dear friend.   My heart and prayers are with you and your family as you journey forward. We will miss you. 😘

Shelly Gotman

February 18, 2025

I based my classroom expectations, "Butler's Laws" on the way my Momma lived her life.
1. Show up
2. Be kind
3. Work hard
4. Have Fun
My Mom lived a beautiful life that was abruptly interrupted and ended by MSA. She is an inspiration for how to live life to the FULLEST and how to love for people. I will miss her every day.
Lofu so, Mama 💜

Sarah Butler (Mowry)

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