Gordon Leroy Dowell

Gordon Leroy Dowell passed away peacefully with family at his side on March 13, 2025 at the age of 92.

Gordon was raised on a dairy farm near Stillwater, Oklahoma.  He attended North Star School and Eureka Middle School and High School.  In his early years, he was actively involved in 4-H and won many statewide and national awards.  He was also inducted into the Oklahoma State 4-H Hall of Fame.

Gordon attended Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State University) in Stillwater and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science.  In 1954, he married Ethel LaRae Harrell on the Bride and Groom television show on NBC in New York City.  He and LaRae had three children, however, LaRae died of complications from childbirth in 1962.  In 1963, Gordon married Dorothy Mae Goree Webb of Las Cruces, NM. Dorothy was a widow and had one son, who Gordon later adopted.

Gordon served two years in the U.S. Army from 1955 thru 1957 after which he dedicated his life and career to being a good steward of the land as an Agriculture Extension Agent.  In 1957, he began his career with the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service serving Seminole County as a County Agent, then served on the State 4-H staff followed by a short stent as County Agent in Pushmataha County.  From 1966 through 1969, he received a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and a Doctorate in Administration of Higher Education from Oklahoma State University.

During his time working in small communities in Oklahoma, he always preached at small rural churches close to where they were living. He had always had a heart for Christian education.  After completing his doctorate, he had an opportunity to move his family to Baker, Oregon to be Dean and later President of Baker College. Magic Valley Christian College in Albion, Idaho was moving to an abandoned air base in Baker in an attempt to keep it going. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late and after 2 years, Baker College merged with Columbia Christian College.

He then went back in to Agriculture Extension work and moved his family of 6 to Bryan/College Station, Texas where he worked for Texas A&M as a Studies and Training Specialist.  While there, he and Dorothy welcomed another daughter to their family in 1971. After 3 years at Texas A&M, he had an opportunity to work for the USDA in Washington, D.C. He was there for 5 years before finishing his career in Extension as a Regional Director for the University of Illinois, retiring to Abilene in 1994.

During his life, Gordon devoted himself to Christian service projects stateside, as well as overseas in Ghana, Zambia, Japan, Mexico and Nicaragua.  He served as a Deacon and as an Elder in several churches. In Peoria, Illinois his family along with some other families planted a church which began worshipping in their basement in 1980 until they were able to build a building in 1983. He served as an Elder there until his retirement.

Gordon’s commitment to public service found him serving as a member of the Lion’s Club, Rotary Club International and while in Abilene, the Kiwanis Club where he served a term as Lt. Governor for the Texas/Oklahoma District. After retiring to Abilene, he served as Director of McNair Scholars Program at Abilene Christian University from 1995 thru 2001.  He also dedicated his time to serving the poor of the world through Healing Hands International, Zambia Medical Mission and Global Samaritan Resources.

He was proceeded in death by this father, Otis Fred Dowell and mother, Flora Rebecca (Tunnell) Dowell, siblings Bill Dowell, Cecil Dowell, Ruth (Dowell) Kimsey, two brothers who died in early childhood and his first wife, Ethel LaRae (Harrell) Dowell and his wife, Dorothy Mae (Goree) Dowell.

He is survived by 5 children, Stephen (Tammy) Dowell, Keith Dowell, Kirk Dowell, Karen (Perry) Covington and Shawna (David) Burkhart;  9 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Gordon also leaves behind many, dear Christian friends.

Memorials in Gordon’s honor can be made to Zambia Medical Missions, African Christian College, Siburt Institute for Church Ministry at Abilene Christian University or any ministry that serves the needs of others.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday March 18th at 10:00am in the auditorium of Highland Church of Christ with a time of visitation to follow at the church.  A private family graveside will be held following the visitation.