Dorothy M. Dowell

Dorothy Mae (Goree) Dowell was born on October 9, 1932 in Newcastle, TX to Willie & Emma Lee (Anderson) Goree. She passed away on April 12, 2022 at her home in Abilene, Texas at the age of 89. A service celebrating her life will be held at 10:00am on Monday April 18, 2022 at the Highland Church of Christ with a time of visitation following.

During the depression, Dorothy’s family moved around parts of Texas and California as jobs became available and eventually settled in Roswell, NM where her father owned and operated a fruit stand and later an antique store.  Dorothy attended schools in Roswell and graduated from high school there at the age of 16.  She went on to attend Oklahoma A & M college and graduated with a degree in home economics.  After graduation she was offered a job working for New Mexico State University Extension Service, serving Raton and later Albuquerque.

In 1956, while in Albuquerque, she met and married Cecil Webb who was serving in the U.S. Air Force.  They had one child, Stephen Alan Webb.  Cecil passed away in 1959.  After his death, with a 3 year old in tow, she enrolled in a Masters program at Colorado State University which she finished 9 months later.

In 1963 she was reintroduced to a former college friend, Gordon Dowell who was working as a County Extension Agent in Oklahoma.  Gordon was a widower with three small children.  Never a stranger to big challenges, she and Gordon married September 14, 1963.  She became a mother of four overnight and later a daughter was born to make it five.

A Christian from her youth, Dorothy had a servant heart wherever she lived.  She taught Bible classes, worked in food pantries, served lots of pot-luck meals and was the President of Women for Baker College.  Vocationally, Dorothy was an educator.  She loved working with youth in the 4-H programs.  She held numerous jobs, all serving children in a meaningful way.  In 1994, she and her husband retired and moved to Abilene to be near family.

Surviving Dorothy are her husband Gordon, five children, Stephen and wife Tammy of New Braunfels, Keith and wife Leslie of Abilene, Kirk of Abilene, Karen Covington and husband Perry of Abilene, and Shawna Burkhart and husband David of Bay City; seven grandchildren, Stephen Dowell, Michael Dowell, Brandi Dowell, Brooke Knight, Taryn DeAnda, Christopher Covington, and Ben Covington and thirteen great-grandchildren.  Preceding her in death were her parents, Willie and Emma Lee Goree.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Hospice of the Big Country and Touching Hearts at Home for their sensitive and loving care for Dorothy.  Donations may be made in her memory to Highland Church of Christ Missions.

Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.