Flora R. Nowell

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 18, 2010 at First Baptist Church Sanctuary with Dr. Johnny Fain officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery with Byrd Funeral Home on West Main Street directing. The family will receive friends at First Baptist Church from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Saturday morning prior to service time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church, 300 W. Main Street, Dothan, AL, 36303 in memory of Mrs. Nowell.

Mrs. Nowell was born in Wetumpka, AL on August 17, 1916 to Ocie H. Ruffin and Flora Daniel Ruffin. After the untimely death of her mother, Mrs. Nowell was raised by her father and loving stepmother, Kate Robinson “Mother Kate” Ruffin.

Mrs. Nowell graduated from Wetumpka High School and later Alabama College for Women, now Montevallo University. She taught Home Economics at Headland High School for a short period of time. Twenty years later she returned to education, teaching Home Economics at Cottonwood High School for 18 years until her retirement. Mrs. Nowell was a member of First Baptist Church, Dothan for 53 years, teaching Sunday school for preschoolers for 28 years.

Mrs. Nowell is predeceased by her husband of 68 years, William Otis Nowell. She is also predeceased by her two brothers, Homer Ruffin and Harvey Ruffin, and her sister, Jane Payne.

Survivors include four sons, William O. Nowell, Jr. of Montgomery, AL, Thomas R. Nowell (Pam) of Lynchburg, VA, Richard C. Nowell (Susan) of Indiana, PA and Michael S. Nowell (Beth) of Dothan, AL; seven grandchildren, Jessica (Rob) Criscione, David Liben-Nowell, Sophie Nowell, Molly Nowell, Ross (Crystal) Nowell, Andrew Nowell and Nathan Nowell; two great-grandchildren, Sean Nowell and Aiden Nowell; several nieces and nephews also survive.

Pallbearers will be her sons, William O. Nowell, Jr., Thomas R. Nowell, Richard C. Nowell, Michael S. Nowell and grandsons, Ross Nowell, Andrew Nowell and Nathan Nowell.

The family would like to thank the caregivers of Home Instead Senior Care and Wiregrass Hospice for the love and care they provided "Mrs. Flo".