Shirrel Dowd

Shirrel Ann Dowd, 76, longtime resident of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Tuesday, April 08, 2014, at Taylor Hospice House in Des Moines, IA. A visitation will be held from 2-7 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2014, at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel where the family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. that evening. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 12th at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial Chapel with Pastor Jeff McPheron officiating. Inurnment will be in Forest Home Cemetery. A memorial has been established to Taylor Hospice House where she received her care. Born October 20, 1937 in rural Birmingham, IA, Shirrel Ann was the daughter of Clem and Ina (Dille) Hootman. She graduated from Birmingham High School. On September 8, 1956 she married Richard Lee Dowd. He preceded her in death on August 22, 1999. Shirrel worked at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, IA. For 30 years she was a production worker at Heatilator in Mt. Pleasant. Always a farm girl at heart, Shirrel loved horses, especially Tennessee Walkers. She would religiously watch the Kentucky Derby and any other horse race she could find. She loved spending time with her grandchildren. Watching NASCAR was a favorite activity. An avid Hawkeye fan, she enjoyed watching football and basketball games. Other hobbies included mushroom hunting, jigsaw puzzles, playing computer games, and reading. Survivors include a son, Joe (Cindy) Dowd of Ankeny, IA; two daughters, Cindy (Bill) Myers, of New London, IA and April (Rob) Wagler of Mt. Union, IA; nine grandchildren, Crystal Mathias, Mandi Spencer, Tim Fry, Nathan Dowd, Whitney and Blake Wagler, Chad, Tim and Stephanie Myers; and nine great-grandchildren Caitlyn, Jack, Halia, Presley, Landry, Libby, Rainsley, Garrett and Cale. Also surviving are three sisters, Eileen Losey of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Elna Greenfield of Birmingham, IA and Eva Johnson of Fairfield, IA. Preceding Shirrel in death were her parents; her husband; seven brothers, Harold, Donovan "Dode", Rex, Dean, Keith, Ray and Verle Lee Hootman; and one sister, Liz "Reva" Dossett.