Mary Jane Dowling

Mary Jane Dowling, age 87, of Mary Esther, Florida went to her heavenly home on August 26, 2018. She was born January 2, 1931 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was the 5th of 6 children. She lived with her family in Knoxville until she was 16. She then moved to Montgomery, Alabama to live with her older brother where she finished school there at Lanier High School in 1949. While living in Montgomery, she met and married Walter Riley Dowling. They raised 4 children who were born in Montgomery and Birmingham Alabama. She worked at Maxwell Air Force Base in Civil Service in Accounting. During her time in Montgomery, she was a Sunday school teacher at Chisholm Baptist Church and then later at Eastern Hills Baptist Church where she was a faithful member. After the death of her husband in 1978, she moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida to be with her children. For 8-10 years, she was a volunteer during her weekends for the Kairos Ministries there in Fort Walton. She later moved to Mary Esther, Florida where in 1995 she began the next chapter of her life. She called her home the Angel Tree House where she had a caring heart for and took care of the elderly and Alzheimer patients who were residents there until she could physically no longer take care of them. While living in Fort Walton and when she was in Mary Esther, she was a member of St. Simon's Episcopal Church where she also served as a Sunday school teacher. Even though she was a hard worker, she loved the beach and enjoyed her meditation time in the early mornings while drinking her coffee and looking at the water. She also enjoyed cooking for others especially during the holidays and reading the Bible as the sun was rising over the bay near her home. As busy as she was with her Angel Tree House residents, she always enjoyed having friends and family come to visit her. She loved the holidays and enjoyed decorating her home for those seasons. She loved her family, extended family and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; her parents, Alfred E. and Annie I. (Kidd) Berney, Sr.; all of her 5 siblings; and a son, Steven Britt Dowling. She is survived by her daughter, Gail Barkley (Bobby); and 2 sons, Scott Dowling and Chris Dowling; 4 grandchildren, Lauren Barkley, Shayne Barkley, Robert (Bo) Barkley, and Cheyenne Dowling; 3 great-grandchildren, Blaize Barkley, Taylor Anne Barkley and Bella Barkley. She had many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her. A public visitation will be held on Friday, October 5, 2018 from 1:00pm-1:45pm in the chapel of White Chapel-Greenwood Funeral Home located at 909 Lincoln Rd. Montgomery, AL. 36109 with a Celebration of Life Graveside Service to follow in Greenwood Cemetery at 2:00pm. Fond memories and condolences can be made by going to www.whitechapel-greenwood.com.