Margaret Dianne McDowell

MARGARET DIANNE MCDOWELL, Our wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend, Margaret Dianne McDowell went to heaven on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 where she continues to pray for all of us. During her life she was a long time member of Christ the King Catholic Church but was often in attendance at mass and for the rosary at several other churches. She was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, the Christ the King Altar Society, Legatus International and several other groups related to her faith. She was particularly devoted to the Virgin Mary and the praying of the rosary.

Dianne attended St. Thomas University in Houston and graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1960. She was an active and loved member of Chi Omega Sorority, many of whose sisters shared prayers for her during her last sickness. She was active in grass root political activities and in Bar Association activities connected with her husband Pat’s legal and judicial career. She and Pat were long time supporters of the White Rose Women’s Center in Dallas and the families ask that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to White Rose or any charity devoted to children and the poor and homeless. Dianne was born August 5, 1938 in San Antonio Texas and spent most of her young years there. Her mother and father, both now deceased, were George Lee Reynolds and Mary Margaret Reynolds. Her mother was one of the children of Judge Delos and Marie Finch. Dianne graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1960 and taught school for several years at the first grade level while Pat was starting his legal career. She met Pat that year and they were married at Christ the King June 23, 1962 by Bishop Mariano Garriga, her mother’s uncle. She is survived by Pat, her husband of 47 years. She and Pat were blessed with two great children, Erin McDowell Sands and Darren McDowell. She devoted much of the her life after they were born to being a wife, mother and later grandmother and being active in her religion. Her life was enriched by the arrival of the grand children, Reynolds Marie Sands, Maura Grace McDowell, Patrick Garrison Sands and Mason Patrick McDowell. She is survived by them and by her sister Suzanne Kurras and her husband Herb Kurras, two nephews, Robert Letscher and Larry Letscher and Robert’s two children. She is also survived by countless friends. Funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 8017 Preston Road. The visitation will be at Sparkman Hillcrest on Northwest Highway from 6:30 to 7:30 and the rosary will be prayed at 7:30 by Father Robert Maguire, who will concelebrate the funeral mass on Saturday with Msgr. Donald Zimmerman, the Pastor of Christ the King. Interment Calvary Hill Cemetery. To leave a condolence, visit www.sparkman-hillcrest.com.