Gerald Fredrick McDowell, 42 of Osawatomie, died Friday, July 2, 1976. He was born March 9, 1934 in Osawatomie, son of Roy E. and Ida Mae Groves McDowell. His parents died when he was a young boy and he was reared by his uncle and aunt, Joe and Rosie McDowell.

He was a lifelong resident of Osawatomie and graduated from the Osawatomie High School with the class of 1952. Jerry, as he was more commonly known, was married to Janet Louise Lloyd on March 18, 1955 at the United Methodist Church.

He was employed as an electrician apprentice on the Missouri Pacific Railroad after graduation from high school. After a short time there, he began working for Phillips Pipe Line Company in Paola where he had been employed for 19 years.

Mr. McDowell was a member of the First Christian Church of Osawatomie,the Osage Valley Lodge, No. 24, AF&AM, and the Farmers Association of America.

Besides his parents, he was survived by his wife Janet, and daughters, Ann, Kimberly Sue, Kerry Lynn,and Karla Jo; a grandson Kurt; two sisters, Mrs. Veda Whitehurst, Ardmore, Oklahoma and Mrs. Wanda Hazen, Kansas City, five brothers, Basil McDowell, Freeport, Texas, Wilfred McDowell and Ray McDowell, Kansas City, Kansas, Everett McDowell, Dallas Texas, and Duane McDowell, Osawatomie.

Services were held at 2pm in the Birchard Funeral Home on Tuesday with the Rev. Almon Martin officiating. Mrs. Bonnie Wendt accompanied by Mrs. Nell Dollar, sang, "The Old Rugged Cross" and "The Last Mile of The Way". Active pallbearers were Joe Fenoughty, Don Bretiel, Laverne Ellis, Bill Avery, Ron Pool, George Cory, Dan Tinsley, and Loren Edwards. Burial was in the Osawatomie Cemetery with Masonic services at the graveside.