Barbara Babs & NANA Nance Nance Dowdy

BARBARA ANN NANCE DOWDY, 67, of Fayette County formerly of Memphis, passed away on November 8, 2010 at her home surrounded by her husband, sons, daughter-in-law, brothers, grandchildren, her dogs Maverick and Roxie and her cat Phoebe after a courageous battle with cancer. Born at home in Ripley, Mississippi on July 3, 1943, Barbara very nearly didn’t survive her difficult birth. She was not breathing and the doctor tried several times to revive her before he was successful. The physician then placed Barbara in the kitchen oven to warm her tiny body. As her body warmed and she was reunited with her mother, Barbara became a living example of God’s love and she never failed to share that love with her family and friends. A proud graduate of South Side High School, Barbara served her community as a classroom volunteer, Cub Scout Den Mother, substitute teacher and member of the Tennessee Army National Guard Women’s Auxiliary. Barbara worked as a legal secretary for 24 years and was an avid flower gardener and craft artist. She is survived by her husband of 47 years Gerald McLain Dowdy, two sons, Gerald Wayne and William Jonathan “Bud” Dowdy, a daughter-in-law, Robin Paige Clement Dowdy, three grandchildren Britney Amber, Cody Austin and Brandon Ryan Dowdy, two brothers, Ronald Griffin and Larry Herbert Nance, sisters-in-law Carole and Donna Nance, and her nieces and nephews Chris, Heather and Haleigh Nance, Justin, Clay and Clint Nance and Lisa, Forrest, Mike and Ariana Brooks. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, William Herbert and Lurline Belle Griffin Nance, her brother James Bonard Nance and her niece Angela. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday November 10 and the funeral service will be held 10 a.m., Thursday, November 11 at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Road. Interment will follow in Memorial Gardens (formerly Memory Hill Gardens). The family requests any memorials be sent to the Wings Cancer Foundation or the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made to www.memphisfuneralhome. net.