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EWER -- Ottilie Vivian Ewer, known to friends and family as "Ottie", beloved wife and mother, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 5, 2008, in Albuquerque, NM. A recent resident of Albuquerque, she was born in Los Angeles, CA on December 10, 1918 to Otto and Vivian (Marshall) Fries, former Vaudeville stars with the Pantages Theater Troop in the early 1900's. Raised in the early Hollywood area where her father was an adult cast member of the" Our Gang" comedies and other comedy motion picture roles. She lived briefly in Frankfurt, KY during her first marriage until her husband's death, moving back to Los Angeles with her daughter, Natalie Barlow. During WWII, she worked at the Lockheed Aircraft Plant in Burbank, CA in the Fuselage Assembly Section as a "Rosie, the riveter". On Dec. 8, 1946, she married H. Bruce Ewer, beginning 61 plus years of marriage. About a year later, after the October birth of their son, Christopher Ewer, the family moved to Weed, CA. After almost 9 years of country living, the Ewer family moved to the Monterey Peninsula where Ottie and Bruce lived in Pacific Grove, CA for over 50 years. In September of 2006 they moved to Albuquerque to be closer to their son, Chris, and his wife, Lynette. While in Pacific Grove, Ottie, worked as an administrator for the City of Monterey, the Monterey Sanitation Department, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., and as a substitute teacher at Lincoln Jr. High School in Seaside, CA. It was while living in Pacific Grove that she resumed her artistic career in various venues. She painted in oils, watercolors, drew in charcoal, pastels, pencil, and ink while dabbling in photography. She became an accomplished ceramics artist and her pieces often won "Golden Bear" awards (First Place) at the Monterey County Fair. Some of her greatest accomplishments were her award winning knitting skills which she honed over a 50 year period. Many a family member bride and groom received an afghan for a wedding gift or later, a knitted baby blanket or sweater to their newborn. During the 1960's and '70's, Ottie and Bruce raised Brittany Spaniel hunting dogs, which they hunted over, showed, and field trialed, with great success. Ottie was always disappointed that she was never allowed to complete her course of study at the Los Angeles School of Fine Arts and Design, having to put her studies aside so her brother, Sherwood (Woody), could attend college. She had aspired to become a fashion designer of women's clothing. She was a member of the Eastern Star, the Pocahontas, Saint Mary's By-The-Sea Episcopal Church of Pacific Grove and St. Timothy's Lutheran Church of Albuquerque. Ottilie was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Vivian Fries, her brother, Sherwood Fries, and her first husband, Harold Barlow. Ottilie is survived by her husband, H. Bruce, daughter, Natalie Barlow, son, Christopher, daughter-in-law, Lynette, step-daughters, Sonja (Ewer) Clark and Sandra Ewer, twelve grandchildren and step-grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and great step-grandchildren, three nephews and nieces, two grandnephews and nieces. Her friends remember her as being helpful, talkative, generous, and loving. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 1:00 p.m., in the Chapel of Daniels Family Funeral Services on Wyoming, 7601 Wyoming Blvd, NE, followed by interment of her ashes at the Sandia Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Zia Chapter (Albuquerque) or the American Diabetes Association. Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010 www.danielsfuneral.com
        Published on: Sun May 18, 2008