Lemmons v. Lawson

Hunstein, Justice.

This case involves the construction of the wills of Dewey Bowen and his wife, Ruth Bowen. Dewey, who died in March 1980, left a will which created a trust comprising about one-half of his estate. Ruth Bowen received a life interest in the trust. Item VI (c) of Dewey’s will provided:

Upon the death of my wife, the Trustee shall pay all of the remaining assets in this Trust or otherwise of the estate in equal shares to my sisters-in-law, namely [Maybelle Lawson, Kate Hipkins, and Lois Maynard]. In the event that [Maybelle or Kate] is not in life, then it is my will and desire…