Memorial
Elayne Gassett, passed away peacefully on September 30th, 2024, following a courageous battle with lung cancer. She was 81 years old.
Elayne was born in Centralia, Illinois, on June 2nd, 1943, to Paul and Mabel Gassett. Her early years were spent moving frequently due to her father’s work in the oil industry, living in places such as Edmonton Alberta Canada, Bethany Oklahoma, and eventually Houston Texas, where she graduated high school in 1961.
She pursued higher education at Sam Houston State College, Texas Women’s University, and Oklahoma State University, where she also competed in the Miss OSU beauty pageant. Elayne’s professional journey included working as an executive assistant at NASA, where she met and married Joseph John Dahm. The couple moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and started a family.
Elayne was an entrepreneur, launching a business called Vari-Comp, which set type for printing companies. Her company was later acquired by Russel’s Guides, where she played a pivotal role in transitioning from hard metal type to computer-generated type and was responsible for printing bus schedules for all North American bus lines.
In 1986, Elayne moved to Dallas, Texas, to be closer to her aging parents. She held various managerial positions there until relocating back to Cedar Rapids in 2008. Elayne found joy in performing arts, square dancing competitively for 10 years and later competing in Ballroom Dancing for 20 years, where she climbed to the Silver division.
Her passion for crafts led her to open a consignment shop for local crafters called MyTyme Creations. She was deeply involved with the Quilts of Valor (QOV) organization, serving as a Group Leader and the Long Arm Coordinator, awarding over 700 veterans with quilts, and personally making over 100 quilts. She was instrumental in moving the Cedar Rapids QOV headquarters from her basement to public space at local Lindale Mall.
While residing at Garnett Place Assisted Living Facility in Cedar Rapids, Elayne rejuvenated their Bell Choir, “The Ding-a-Lings,” and later started another Bell Choir, the “Symphonettes,” at Summit Pointe Senior Living Community.
Elayne was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Mabel Gassett, and her son-in-law Bob Stinson. She is survived by her sister Pam Fleming, her daughter Valerie Stinson, her son Jeff Dahm (Caryn), four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Elayne will be remembered by her family and friends as strong, passionate, and one who shared her many talents in countless ways.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Quilts of Valor, Freedom Stitchers of Iowa.
Make checks payable to QOVF and Mail to:
Lindale Mall – QOV Box 52
4444 1st Avenue NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402