Margaret Grace McDowell - Obituary

 

Margaret Grace McDowell

July 12, 1951 — March 2, 2025

Margaret Grace McDowell passed away peacefully on March 2, 2025. Margaret was born on July 12, 1951, in Wichita, Kansas to Ron and Marian (Barritt) Manuel.

She graduated from Truman High School in the class of 1969 and went on to college at Graceland College (now Graceland University), graduating in 1973 with a BA in Education.

Several years after graduating from college, she married Rod McDowell. They had two sons, Aaron Todd McDowell, and Ethan Scott McDowell.

Margaret worked as an elementary school teacher in Bethany, Missouri for several years before moving to Independence, Missouri. After moving to Independence, she worked for Community of Christ as an Administrative Assistant until she retired.

She was a member of Village Heights congregation in Community of Christ and served as a Teacher in the priesthood. She enjoyed working with friends at Village Heights every Thursday morning to make bed mats for the homeless out of plastic bags, and she also played a dulcimer with a dulcimer group, Strings in Harmony, at church. She had great memories from a trip to Europe and from winter trips to Florida to visit relatives there. Margaret collected and displayed many knick-knacks from her travels.

Margaret was a caring and loving person who looked for opportunities to be generous to others. Margaret worked with kids in JAM (Jesus and Me) in the Boys and Girls Club in Hawthorne Apartments in Independence.

Margaret loved her children, Aaron and Ethan, and she also loved her pets. She found her most recent cat, Missy, in the middle of the street when she was just a baby kitten. Margaret’s friends discovered during these past several years that Margaret loved to sing and dance.

Margaret is survived by: Aaron and his wife, Amanda; her brother, Evan Manuel and his wife Mary Jo; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by Rod, and also her son, Ethan.

A brief memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 pm, at Village Heights Community of Christ in Independence, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to Saint Luke’s Hospice House would be greatly appreciated.