Iris Gray Dowling was born in Oxford and lived in Chester County all her life. She graduated from Oxford High School and West Chester University with Bachelors and Masters Degrees. She obtained credits toward a PhD.
She taught public school over 25 years and advised Pennsylvania home school families for more than twenty-nine years, working under the direction of the Pennsylvania Home school Accreditation Agency. She also taught Children’s Church in several Chester County churches for over 45 years, as well as Vacation Bible School, Sunday school, and directed Special Day programs in public schools and churches.
Iris is a freelance writer who has published the following works: picture books, nature books, teaching articles, fictional stories, rebus stories, devotions, puppet skits, object lessons, short dramas, poems, program materials, and puzzles.
Her newest 2018 book title is: A Morning Surprise. Other books available are: “A Change of Hats”, “A Pony for My Birthday”, and “The History of Churches and Worship Groups in the Oxford Area (Chester County, PA). Other books include: “Mission Journeys from Upper Oxford Township, Oxford, PA”; “School and Church Programs Ideas for the Whole Year”; “Christmas Program Ideas” (Editions 1 & 2); Upward Bound” (Puppet skits) by Eldridge Plays and Musicals; "The Right Connection" by Faithlife Publishers; “Through the Eye Gate” (object lessons) by PASSA. Iris authored almost half of the following books: Programs for Special Days by Standard Publishing Company, as well as varied holiday material in more than 55 other Standard Publishing Program Books and Declare His Name (Mission dramas ) by ABWE Mission Publishers. She still sells Special Days Program Ideas and puppet skits to Standard Publishers, Lillenas Publishers, One Way Street Puppet Magazine, National Drama Service, Christian Drama Magazine, Shining Star Magazine, and Creatively Yours Puppetry.
Iris has been a member of the American Pen Women, Diamond State Branch, since 1993, Sandy Cove Christian Writer’s Conference faculty, Byline Magazine representative, Oxford Area Historical Association, Upper Oxford One Room Historical Committee since 2003. Over the years she was also a member of the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers, Society of Children’s Book Writers, Main Line Writer’s Guild, Oxford Writer’s Guild, and the Philadelphia Writer’s Club.
Some of Iris’ Writing Awards include: First place in Maryland State Biennial Rhymed Poetry Contest by MD-NLAPW; Chesapeake Poetry Contest; First Prize for a fiction story from Byline Magazine; a Faithful Service Award from Bible Baptist Church in West Chester, PA, and an Award for Preservation of History in the Oxford Area by the Oxford Area Historical Association. Three of Iris’ published stories were chosen and translated into six different languages and sent to be enjoyed by thousands of children in six foreign countries.
In the past 15 years Iris worked on the Upper Oxford One-room School Committee and the Upper Oxford Historical Book Team. Since 1995 she has sung and narrated for the Cochranville Goldenagers Chorus which entertains at nursing homes, senior centers, mentally challenged groups, and church functions. 
Writing Materials Iris is working on:
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*Collection of Nature Stories with a twist #2.
*Collection of Stories for various ages.
*Stories about growing up in Chester County.
*Collection of puzzles for all ages.
*Rebus Stories based on Bible Stories.
*Picture Books for children.
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I would enjoy hearing from you. You may send an E-mail to Dowlingiris013@gmail.com
A note from Iris:
Iris Gray Dowling