Rita McDowell's Obituary
Mass of Christian burial for, Rita ?MeMaw? McDowell, 85, of Longview will be 10 AM Saturday, January 20, 2007 at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Father Bruce Lincon and Father Mark Dunne officiating. Burial will follow in White Cemetery in Longview. Mrs. McDowell passed away January 17, at a local care center.
She was born March 1, 1921, in Brooklyn, New York to Louigi and Prosperina Rotti Ferrigiaurio of Genoa, Italy. She spent her childhood experiencing the excitement of Broadway. She loved to share stories of the ?swing? dance contests she and her brother would enter and all of the entertainment Coney Island had to offer.
She and her husband, E.R. ?Mac? McDowell permanently settled in Longview in the early 60?s. Together they established McDowell Industrial Electric Co., serving the city of Longview and surrounding area for nearly 40 years.
For many years, she was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, as a woman of strong faith, she ?raised up her children as they should go? Proverbs 22:6. She was an active member of the Catholic Daughters, served as a Campfire Girl leader and Cub Scout Den Mother for several years. She stayed busy in her kitchen carrying on her heritage cooking elaborate Italian meals for her family. In her spare time she would sit ?knitting?, eagerly awaiting her favorite television shows ?Walker, Texas Ranger and Matlock.?
Mrs. McDowell was preceded in death by her husband, E.R. McDowell; son, Blasé Damien; and daughter, Lita Marie.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, Kent and Carol McDowell, Randy and Becky McDowell, both of Longview, Betsy Robinson of Naples, Florida, and Lori Pevey and Michael O?Connor of Longview. She also shared her love with 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Aaron McDowell, Chris McDowell, Clint McDowell, Kyle Thompson, Dustin Pevey, and Cheyenne McDowell. Honorary Pallbearers will be her granddaughters, Jennifer White, Amber Pevey, and Shannon Rajoelina.
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