Mrs. Marcella Killey McDowell

Marcella McDowell, 96, passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2021. She was born in Monmouth, Illinois to Leonard and Jennie Killey. She was very active in 4-H clubs where she learned sewing, knitting, tatting and other needlework and made many of her own clothes, which she continued to do most of her life. She graduated from Monmouth High School and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa in 1946. She continued her education at Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, Tennessee, earning her Master’s Degree in Social Group Work in 1950. She took her Christian duties very seriously and was ordained as a Deaconess by the Methodist Church in 1953. She worked with Bethlehem Center in Memphis, Tennessee in 1947 and also worked with the Bethlehem Center in Spartanburg, SC in the early 1950’s. She felt that this was true mission work and loved working with the underprivileged children there.

During her time in Spartanburg, she met George Dean McDowell, whom she described as “a Southern Gentleman” and married him in 1957. She taught elementary school for two years in Taylors, SC and then worked on the Bookmobile in Spartanburg County, taking library books to rural areas. After her first child was born she became a full time homemaker, raising one son, Charles Phillip and two daughters, Jennie Kate and Sandra Karen. Marcella and Dean were charter members of Riverland Hills Baptist Church and Marcella taught the adult ladies Sunday School “Ruth” Class for over 30 years. She also continued her love for mission work by being a member of the WMU (Women’s Missionary Union) for many years.

Marcella continued to sew and make beautiful things with her hands and found a true joy later in her life by making quilts. She joined the Palmetto Quilters and was an active member of the FCL (Family and Community Leaders) Club in Lexington County for 30 years. She made knitted caps for the Charleston Seamen’s Ministry and was awarded a plaque when she had knitted 100 caps during one year, but then she just kept right on knitting more! She enjoyed making quilts for family members and truly loved to buy fabric and piece these quilts together. She loved making things for her grandchildren when they came along. Marcella loved to travel and visit with her family members and even made several trips to Alaska!

Marcella was preceded in death by her husband, Dean McDowell, and her parents and sister, Helen “Jean” Martin, and brother, Victor “Vic” Killey. Although she lived 96 years, her remaining family members feel that it was still not enough time to enjoy life with this precious lady. She leaves behind her children, Phil (Sandy) McDowell, Jennie (Phil) Rucker and Sandra (Dean) Cox, her six grandchildren, Erin (Kyle) Richardson, Rae (Tanner) Vestal, Jacob Rucker, Christy Rucker, Rebecca Cox and Daniel Cox and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Generations of Irmo Memory Care for their excellent care of Marcella during the last several years. We would also like to thank Comfort Care Hospice and Care by Generations, especially Joan Bilton, Katherine Modzelewski and Dorothy Robinson for your devoted care of our mother.

A celebration of life service for Mrs. McDowell will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at Riverland Hill Baptist Church, with burial at 3:00 p.m. in First Baptist Boiling Spring Church Cemetery. Donations can be made in her memory to the Annie Armstrong or Lottie Moon Missions at Riverland Hills Baptist Church, 201 Lake Murray Blvd. Irmo, SC, 29063.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com