Joann Dowdy Gordon

On May 2, 2016 Joann Dowdy Gordon died while holding hands with her loving husband, Jay. Joann was born on December 5, 1935 in Swan, Texas to James and Alice Dowdy. Her siblings included Chris Lowry, Jim Dowdy, Bill Dowdy and Jack Dowdy. She graduated from John Tyler High School. She then went to Tyler Junior College where she was an Apache Bell. Joann graduated from Tyler Junior College with a Secretarial Degree. After graduation, she went to Milwaukee for a few months. Her oldest brother, Jim Dowdy, lived in Dallas. Joann moved in with Jim and his wife, Mary, and began working at New York Life in the Loan division. She worked for New York Life for over 40 years; most of that time she worked for Larry Fisher and Mel Isaacs.

In 1960, she married Jay Gordon at Munger Place Baptist Church. Jay and Joann were married for 57 years. They had three children: Dawn, Scott and Rebecca. Joann was a constant supporter of all that her children participated in. From Y-ball football with Scott and softball with Rebecca to twelve straight years sitting in the stands watching her children participate in some aspect of the Bryan Adams High School football games. Dawn was in the band, Scott played football and Rebecca was on the Belles drill team.

Jay and Joann were members of Munger Place Baptist, Gross Road Baptist, Casa View Baptist and finally Lakeside Baptist. In all but the last church, she took on leadership positions. Member of the choir, various positions in WMU, GA’s and Sunday School. For many years, she was the Sunday School director of the department that Jay would teach in.

Joann was a member of American Business Women’s Association for many years occupying several officer positions within the organization. Joann loved to read and was invited to join Hardy Listeners book club and would come home and tell Jay about the review of a particular book that impressed her.

Joann was preceded in death by James and Alice Dowdy, Chris Lowry, Bill Dowdy, Jack Dowdy and her niece Alice Sue Dowdy. She is survived by her faithful husband, Jay Gordon, her three children and their spouses, Kent and Dawn Ross, Scott and Penni Gordon, and Clayton and Rebecca Galyean. She has seven grandchildren upon whom she poured undying devotion: Rachel Ross Hardt, Deborah Ross, Sawyer Gaylean, Abigail Gaylean, Piper Gordon, Straton Gaylean and Parker Gordon. She is also survived by her oldest brother Jim Dowdy and 9 nephews and nieces.

Throughout her life, Joann was a godly woman embracing the fact that God’s word is absolute. All those that knew her would attest that she modeled Proverbs 31:25-31.

Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: "Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.

A Celebration of Joann's life will be held Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 12:00 P.M., at Lakeside Baptist Church, 9150 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218.