Reverend Albert David McDowell

The Reverend Albert David McDowell, 93, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri died October 28, 2022. He was born December 27, 1928 in Temple, Texas to Frank B. McDowell and Charlotte McCalla McDowell. As the son of Presbyterian minister he moved several times with his family - to Oklahoma, Michigan, then to Kansas where he graduated from Junction City High School in 1946. Upon graduation he enrolled at Park College (University) in Parkville, MO. In order to pay his tuition he worked in the college’s greenhouse overseeing the snapdragons and mums that would be taken to market in the spring and fall.

Later he was asked to be the houseboy for the president of Park College and helped in caring for the family’s three young children as well as occasionally accompanying the president’s wife to concerts in Kansas City. Due to his work schedule it took five years to complete his bachelor’s degree in psychology. Albert then enrolled at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor and Master of Divinity. Again, in order to pay his tuition he worked cleaning floors at the seminary. That same year he received his certificate of ordination and was ordained at the First Presbyterian Church at Poteau, Oklahoma, where he pastored the Poteau church as well as the church in Heavener – a two point field.

In 1957 he received a call from the Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Vinita, OK and was pastor there until 963. At that time he went to the First Presbyterian Church in Brownfield, Texas and was there until he received a call from a church in Grandview, MO in 1968. He had received an invitation to be interviewed by the pulpit nominating committee at St. Matthew Presbyterian Church and initially declined their call to that church. When the committee reached out to him a second time he accepted the call and was the pastor at St. Matthew for twenty-one years, retiring in January 1990. During that period of time, a pre-school was organized and became an integral part of the church’s outreach program to the community. The church experienced three building programs during that time, the last one being the addition of a sanctuary.

Albert also served as the Grandview Police Department’s chaplain during that time. Beginning in 1990 he served five churches within the Heartland Presbytery as a stated supply. In 2010, he retired for a second time. His experiences during his ministry were many and varied, and sometimes a few feathers were ruffled along the way, but was always ready to listen to those who were in need of comfort or encouragement. One of his former congregants stated, “I will always remember this amazing man and pastor who encouraged our church to live into our faith, explaining that this is where God calls us, and he would recite one of his favorite scriptures: Matthew 25:40 –"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.”

During the early years at St. Matthew, Albert was active in the Boy Scout troop that was sponsored by the church, and he also served as the president of the Grandview Ministerial Church Alliance on several occasions. He was a fifty year member of the Masonic organization and was quite active in the Grandview and the Swope Park Masonic Lodges, serving in several capacities, as well as conducting numerous funerals for fellow brothers.

Albert is survived by his

wife, Shera, of 40 years; son, Stephen McDowell; daughters Anne Scott (Joe) and Jane McDowell; step-daughter, Sabrina Rankin (Troy Crites) and step-son, Spencer Brackman (Geri); three grandchildren; one step-granddaughter and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Frank K. and James Cleland McDowell.