McDowell, Rita "MeMaw"

Mass of Christian burial for Rita "MeMaw" McDowell, 85, of 
Longview, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, January 20, 2007, at St. 
Anthony Catholic Church, with Father Bruce Lincon and Father 
Mark Dunne officiating. Burial will follow in White Cemetery 
of Longview. Mrs. McDowell passed away January 17, 2007, at 
a local care center. She was born March 1, 1921, in Brooklyn, 
New York, to Louigi and Prosperina Rotti Ferrigiaurio of 
Genoa, Italy. She spent her childhood experiencing the 
excitement of Broadway. She loved to share stories of the 
"swing" dance contests she and her brother would enter and 
all of the entertainment Coney Island had to offer. She and 
her husband, E.R. "Mac" McDowell, permanently settled in 
Longview in the early 1960s. Together, they established 
McDowell Industrial Electric Co., serving the city of Longview 
and surrounding area for nearly 40 years. For many years, she 
was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church. As a woman of 
strong faith, she "raised up her children as they should go." 
- Proverbs 22:6. She was an active member of the Catholic 
Daughters, served as a Campfire Girl leader and Cub Scout den 
mother for several years. She stayed busy in her kitchen, 
carrying on her heritage by cooking elaborate Italian meals 
for her family. In her spare time, she would sit "knitting," 
eagerly awaiting her favorite television shows, "Walker, Texas 
Ranger" and "Matlock." Mrs. McDowell was preceded in death by 
her husband, E.R. McDowell; son, Blas? Damien; and daughter, 
Lita Marie. Survivors include her children and their spouses, 
Kent and Carol McDowell, Randy and Becky McDowell, both of 
Longview, Betsy Robinson of Naples, Florida, and Lori Pevey and 
Michael O'Connor of Longview. She also shared her love with 11 
grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be 
her grandchildren, Aaron McDowell, Chris McDowell, Clint McDowell, 
Kyle Thompson, Dustin Pevey, and Cheyenne McDowell. Honorary 
Pallbearers will be her granddaughters, Jennifer White, Amber 
Pevey, and Shannon Rajoelina. A memorial guestbook may be signed 
online at www.raderfh.com.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 1/19/2007.

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McDowell, Rita "MeMaw"

Mass of Christian burial for Rita "MeMaw" McDowell, 85, of 
Longview, will be 10 a.m. today, January 20, 2007, at St. 
Anthony Catholic Church, with Father Bruce Lincon and Father 
Mark Dunne officiating. Burial will follow in White Cemetery 
of Longview. Mrs. McDowell passed away January 17, 2007, at a 
local care center. She was born March 1, 1921, in Brooklyn, 
New York, to Louigi and Prosperina Rotti Ferrigiaurio of Genoa, 
Italy. She spent her childhood experiencing the excitement of 
Broadway. She loved to share stories of the "swing" dance 
contests she and her brother would enter and all of the 
entertainment Coney Island had to offer. She and her husband, 
E.R. "Mac" McDowell, permanently settled in Longview in the 
early 1960s. Together, they established McDowell Industrial 
Electric Co., serving the city of Longview and surrounding area 
for nearly 40 years. For many years, she was a member of St. 
Anthony Catholic Church. As a woman of strong faith, she "raised 
up her children as they should go." - Proverbs 22:6. She was an 
active member of the Catholic Daughters, served as a Campfire 
Girl leader and Cub Scout den mother for several years. She 
stayed busy in her kitchen, carrying on her heritage by cooking 
elaborate Italian meals for her family. In her spare time, she 
would sit "knitting," eagerly awaiting her favorite television 
shows, "Walker, Texas Ranger" and "Matlock." Mrs. McDowell was 
preceded in death by her husband, E.R. McDowell; son, Blas? 
Damien; and daughter, Lita Marie. Survivors include her children 
and their spouses, Kent and Carol McDowell, Randy and Becky 
McDowell, both of Longview, Betsy Robinson of Naples, Florida, 
and Lori (Pevey) and Michael O'Connor of Longview. She also 
shared her love with 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. 
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Aaron McDowell, Chris 
McDowell, Clint McDowell, Kyle Thompson, Dustin Pevey, and 
Cheyenne McDowell. Honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters, 
Jennifer White, Amber Pevey, and Shannon Rajoelina. A memorial 
guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 1/20/2007.