Nancy Lou (Ely) McDowell passed away peacefully April 24, 2018 in Sun City West, Arizona. She was 79 Years old. She was born August 31, 1938 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Louis Charles Ely and Helen May (Bartley) Ely. She lived in Dearborn, Michigan as a child, until the family moved to Phoenix, where Nancy graduated from Sunnyslope High School. She and her family moved to Kingman, Arizona where she met and fell in love with the love of her life, and husband of 55 years, Rylie C. McDowell Jr. The happy couple lived in Eagle Mountain, CA, Desert Center, CA, Blythe, CA, and Peoria, AZ. They had one child, Neil McDowell of Peoria, AZ.
Nancy worked as a substitute teacher in the Desert Center Unified School District and as a clerk at the General Patton museum at Chiriaco Summit, CA. Nancy is fondly remembered as the “Avon Lady” for Eagle Mountain, CA, Desert Center, CA and Blythe, CA, where she met many friends during her 25 plus years career. Nancy was a member of the Lions Club International for approximately 30 years. In the Chuckwalla Valley Lions Club she held the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. In the Blythe Lions Club she was President and Vice President. She loved being a Lion, helping others while making some great friendships along the way.
Nancy attended the Methodist Church in Kingman, AZ. In Desert Center, CA she attended Church of the Nazarene, and in Blythe, CA she attended Calvary Chapel.
Nancy loved to bake; her Carrot Cake is legendary and was a 7 time award winner at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival. Besides cooking, Nancy liked painting ceramics, fundraising activities for Lions Club, fishing, bowling, camping, pets (particularly dogs), and watching the Arizona Diamondbacks. She loved visiting with family and friends, and was very talkative, whether in person or on the phone. She was a very friendly, kind, and generous person who was always concerned about others, and never met a stranger.
She is survived by her husband Rylie C. McDowell Jr of Peoria, AZ her Son Neil (Jennifer) McDowell of Peoria AZ, Grandchildren Aaron and Amy McDowell of Peoria, AZ, Sisters Barbara Patterson and Susan Hopeman, both from Kingman, AZ, Brother-and sister in-law Joseph “Ritchie” and Carma McDowell of Washington City, UT, Brother and Sister-in-Law Ronald and Angela McDowell of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Nephew Steven Chambers of Ahwatukee, AZ, Nieces Kimberly (Perry) Walker of Indio, CA, Kristi (Lahi) Vaka of St. George, UT, Natalie (Jeff) Haase of Chandler, AZ, Diane (Charlie) Smith of Phoenix, AZ, as well as numerous other family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her Parents Louis C. Ely and Helen May Ely, as well as her sister Joan Clare Ely.
Services will be held at Sunland Memorial Park Mortuary and Cemetery, 15826 Del Webb Blvd. Sun City, Arizona on Thursday May 10, 2018. There will be a viewing at 11:00 am with Funeral at 12:00PM and Burial following. Afterwards family and friends are invited for fellowship and snacks at Neil’s house in Peoria, AZ.
