Dawn M. (Morello) Meadows, 70, of Ames, passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

Dawn Marie Meadows was born on July 6, 1955, to Edward and Yvonne (Geisler) Morello. She was raised and educated in Boone, and later, West Branch, where she graduated from high school.

Following high school, Dawn attended barber school in Des Moines. She worked in Ames for a time, at University Barber in Campustown Ames, then later she owned her own salon, Style Studio also in Campustown Ames. She later rented a chair at Turning Heads salon in downtown Ames for more than 10 years, retiring when it closed its doors.

Dawn was united in marriage to Leslie James Meadows, in 1972. The family made their home in Boone to start and then spent a brief time in Cedar Rapids before heading back to Boone until 1988 and then settling in Ames for the rest of their time.

Dawn was an avid bowler; she participated in bowling leagues over the years for those that remembered she appeared on Let's go Bowling with Jim Zabel and enjoyed traveling. Some of her more memorable trips included Canada with her Great-Grandmother Nellie, along with trips to Florida with her husband Les and France was probably her favorite place to go.

Dawn's friends were very important to her, and she loved her dogs: Reggie, Louie, Mollie and most recently, her French bulldog, Gigi.

At the center of her life were her son, James his wife Drea and her grandson, Joel. She attended as many of their events as while they were growing up and she remained particularly close to Joel.

Dawn's family and friends will lovingly remember her big heart, her love of socializing and her tremendous memory of cobuntless clients and friends over the years.

Dawn is survived by her son, James (Andrea) Meadows; her grandson, Joel Meadows; her sister, Beth Sutton, of Arizona; her brother Steve (wife Celania Custodio de la Rosa) Morello, of France; along with nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Dawn was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Yvonne; her husband, Leslie, in 2020; a grandson Alec James Meadows, in infancy; and her sister, Cindy McNeil.

A memorial gathering honoring both Dawn and Leslie Meadows will be held on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00p.m.
Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com