Bertha Lou Dowell

Bertha Lou Darlene (Dryer) Dowell died on November 21, 2022 in Atchison, Kansas at the age of 89. Bertha was a Christian, wife, mother, homemaker, nurse, farmer, and storyteller. She was born at home December 8, 1932 in Mt. Leonard, Missouri, the youngest of 9 siblings. She graduated from Malta Bend High School in Saline County Missouri and later, in her mid thirties, graduated at the top of her LPN class at the Jennie Lund School of Nursing in Independence, Missouri. Her proudest nursing accomplishment was serving as a private duty nurse to Bess Truman at the historic Truman home in the late 70s and early 80s. She was married to Rex Dowell in Independence, Missouri on January 12, 1952. They had a daughter and two sons. Her family was always her highest priority, and she loved to keep up with what was going on with her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. She and Rex took in many foster kids,specializing in neglected and abused infants with medical needs. The family raised several hundred cattle during the years they were farming. She named them all and kept a detailed description and record for each one. They were delicious. A longtime member of First Baptist Church of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, she was most recently a member of First Presbyterian Church of Atchison, Kansas. Bertha taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Sunbeams and played piano. She was a regular worship attendee, dedicated tither and served in many different capacities at several Baptist churches over the years. She read through the entire Bible over 14 times, and more importantly took it to heart in her own life. She lived a life of daily prayer for her friends, family and world. Amazingly, she also had time to read over 2000 romance novels. 89 years is a long time. She also enjoyed biography, history and inspirational works. She loved to talk with her friends, family, caregivers, and acquaintances; sometimes maintaining conversations for hours at a time. The Dryer/Hawkins family was famous for its storytelling. Rex became disabled with Parkinson’s Disease, but in retirement they enjoyed traveling all over the country. She spent many years helping Rex cope with his illness.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel Benjamin and Martha Jane Dryer, husband, Rex Dowell, sister, Laverta VanBuskirk, brothers, Jesse, Lester, Isaac, Lloyd, John, Archie, and James Dryer, and great grandson, Nathaniel Schultze. She is survived by daughter Debi Schultze and her husband Phil, son Ralph and his wife Jean, son Russell and his wife Mary Jo, grandson Daniel Schultze and his wife Christina and their children Phillip and Alexandra, grandson Matthew Schultze and his wife Christy and their children Jack, Samuel, and Matilyn, granddaughter Molly Dowell Baum and her wife Robin and their children DD and Anneliese, grandaughter Martha Dowell and her husband Alex Denton and their children August and Judah, grandson Ryan Dowell and granddaughter Sarah Dowell.

The funeral is scheduled for Thursday, December 8, 2022 (Bertha’s 90th birthday) at Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri. Visitation starts at 1pm. Memorial service is at 2pm. There will be birthday cake and party favors immediately following. Memorial donations will be divided between Mt. Leonard Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church of Atchison, Kansas.