Shirley Jean McDowell

Shirley Jean McDowell, 78, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, August 18, 2015 of natural causes at BSA Hospital. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 6969 E Interstate 40 with Pastor Darrell Burton officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Directors. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, The family will greet friends Friday at the Funeral Home from 6-8pm.

Shirley Jean McDowell was born March 14, 1937 to Frank James and Irma Greenlee in St. Joseph, Missouri. Shirley is a 1956 graduate of Lafayette High School and also attended Missouri Western College later in her life. She enjoyed school and became a substitute teacher. Shirley and Robert (Bob) McDowell were high school sweethearts and were married in 1957 and were together for 33 and a half years. Shirley was a retail clerk for many years until retirement. She lived in St. Joseph until 2009 when she moved to Amarillo to live with her daughter, Annette Richards. Shirley loved history of any kind and from any location in the world. Movies, archeology and artifacts were her passion. She was an avid Kansas City Chiefs and Royals fan. Shirley loved the Lord and was Pentacostal in her faith and was a dedicated Democrat. Family meant the world to her and she will be deeply missed.

Shirley is survived by a daughter, V. Annette Richards and husband Bobby; an adopted daughter, Carmyn Jean Hough and husband Tim; and three sons, Robert Michael McDowell, Patrick Dale McDowell and William Russell McDowell and wife Julie; 11 grandchildren, Rachel Elledge of Wichita Falls, TX Nichole Mora of Amarillo, Kassandra Foster of Amarillo, Robert McDowell of St. Joseph, Mo., Nathan Wilson of Oahu, Hawaii, April Hanna of Topeka, Ks., Michelle McDowell of St. Joseph, Mo., Cerryssa Bonea of St. Joseph, Mo., Stephanie Uminn of St. Joseph, Mo., Stacy Richards and Crystal Culala, both of Amarillo; 9 great-grandchildren, Adam Mora, Samuel Mora, David Mora, Abraham Mora, Joseph Foster, Daniel Foster, Zoey Culala. Cynthia Richards, all of Amarillo, Breanna Riley of Lubbock, Aiden Elledge, Josalyn Elledge, Trinten Elledge all of Wichita Falls, Reagan Hanna of Topeka, Ks., Ellena Bonea of St. Joseph, Mo., and Adreanna Uminn of St. Joseph, Mo.; two sisters, Doris Ann Mason of West Boylston, Ma., and Margaret Rella Reasterer of St. Joseph, Mo.; and a lifetime best friend to the end, Patty Allen.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter in law, Donna McDowell.

My Friend Unto The End (Written by her lifelong friend, Patty Allen)

My Best Friend

You are my friend unto the end, a life time friend to me.

I can recall that through it all you always stood by me.

The things we've done and thought we had fun,

But then morning comes. And then we felt bad, and yes we were sad.

And the world, it is all in our reach.

But God he was there and just can't compare, a lesson God was trying to teach.

He was calling come unto me and my child you can see a life so much better for you.

So leave this old world behind, and yes you will find that my world is waiting for you.

We went to an alter of prayer and yes, God met us there, and God changed our life and now we live for Christ.

My friend you can see how much you mean to me

For we walked through the shadow of death and we came out into the light and in God's giving life.

And thank you Lord for the mercy we see.

Friend we have a friendship that's close and closer than most.

For all the things we have gone through.

You were there through the good and the bad, when I was happy or sad.

And I also was there friend for you.

We've been friends for a good many years. and there were joy and tears.

I am so glad God lifted us into a life living for him. From this evil world full of sin.

Thank you Lord that you hand is on us through thick and thin.