Birtha (Birthie) Mary Dowell 90 of Bowling Green, formerly of Vandalia passed away Friday September 12, 2008 at Country View Nursing Facility in Bowling Green.  Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m.  Monday at Mudd-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green with Rev. Richard Smith officiating.  Burial will be in the Vandalia Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Sunday at the Mudd-Veach Funeral Home. 

Birtha Mary Dowell was born on April 27, 1918 in Frankford, the daughter of Leo Augusta and Stella Agness Riechards Hickson.  She married William Henry Melton Dowell on April 7, 1941 in Bowling Green and he preceded her in death on June 17, 1969.  Survivors include three daughters Stella Campbell of Lebanon, Ruth Sanchez of McKenzie, TN., Mary Grimmett and husband Junior of Bowling Green; one son Johnnie Dowell and wife Glenda of Louisiana;
10 grandchildren Joseph and Jacson Trower, Henry Campbell, Dannial and Michael Dowell, William Sawyer, Annie White and Angela, Tony and MeKeshia Grimmett;  22 great grandchildren;  three sisters Leota McCurdy of Palmyra, Nellie McCurdy and husband George of Monroe City and Stella Baker of Vandalia; one brother James Hickson and wife Dorothy of Bowling Green. She was preceded in death by one son William Leo Dowell and one daughter  Augusta Lee Dowell.

Birtha lived most of her life in the Bowling Green area.  She worked for Stark Brothers Nursery
in the late 1950’s and early sixties.  She enjoyed sewing, her flower garden and cat Fluffy.

Memorials may be made to the family c/o Mudd-Veach Funeral Home, 606 W. Main, Bowling Green, Mo.  63334.