Hazel Dowden

On July 5th 2021, Our Heavenly Father answered the prayers of our beloved Hazel. With grace and mercy He removed her pain and suffering and called her home to be reunited with her family. Hazel was a woman with style, passion, fire, and mischief in a tiny package. You will not meet one person who would describe her cooking as anything less than FABULOUS. Legendary Chocolate Cherry Torte Cake, Pineapple Cream Cake, Texas Yum Yum, Lasagna, Chili, Four Cheese Pasta, and much more were second to none. Award winning BBQ sauce wafting from the kitchen would make you smile and hungry like nothing else.

Always dressed to perfection with style, opened her home with warmth, strived for perfection ranging from raising award winning Pomeranians to award winning BBQ sauce.

Hazel was also known for her playful personality, festivity, and imagination. She made holidays AMAZING with special Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners, capturing real Santa Tracks, communicating with north pole elves in their attic, and epic Easter egg hunts (just ask the grandkids)!

Hazel, however, truly will forever be remembered for the love and passion for her family. She was a momma bear who would not be challenged. To judge her by her size was your first and last mistake. Hazel was an extraordinary mother, wife, sister, grandmother and friend to so many. We were blessed to have her love, friendship, laughs, food, and her presence in our lives. Her spirt will forever remain in our lives and her amazing legacy will pass on to many Dowden generations.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, Alzona Franklin Unger and Dovie Unger; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Archie and Ruby Dowden; brothers, Junior Unger, L J Unger, Ernie Unger, Bobby Unger, Richard Tilley and Nathan Tilley; sisters Virginia Berry (Buddy Bobbie, Cricket) and Georgia Jones. Survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Lee Dowden; sons, Cliff Dowden and wife Becky and Mark Dowden and wife Sandy; grandchildren, Jacob Dowden and wife Gigi, Brooklyn Hitchcock and husband Erik, Katelyn Dowden, Caleb Dowden and Casey Dowden; great-grandchildren, Colby Hitchcock, Adelyn Hitchcock, Elijah Dowden and Oliver Dowden; sister, Mary Ellen Wall and husband Walter and many nieces and nephews. Special Aunt: Charlotte Craig and husband Johnnie.

Visitation with the family was held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at Waltrip Funeral Directors, where funeral services began at 10:00 a.m. in the R. L. Waltrip Venue. Interment followed in Katy Magnolia Cemetery, Katy, Texas.