Dates
(Jennie) Marie McDaniel Dowling, Seamstress to the Hearts of the World, went to join her Lord on August 27 after serving her God and family for over 93 years.
Marie, of Robert Lee and San Angelo, as well as former longtime resident of Houston, was born December 14, 1927 to Eula (Fisher) and Arch McDaniel in Houston, TX. Her father died when she was only eight.
Marie, her mother and her brother, Bill, had to turn towards each other to survive. Turning towards family is a value she passed on to every one she met, her whole life. Marie was a shining example of unconditional love. Marie grew up in the church and claimed she could sing every song in the Cokesbury Hymnal. In 1948 she married (Milton) Wayne Dowling who had returned from the Navy and WWII. After Wayne’s graduation from Texas A&M in 1950, they returned to Houston where they shared a truly happy life until his passing in 1992. Marie and Wayne were faithful members of Temple United Methodist Church in Houston. Living across the street from the church, they served as everything from janitor to Youth Directors. Marie worked outside the home most of her life, including 25 years for Baylor College of Medicine. She was an avid sewer. During all of this, she reared four children while being married to a busy Boy Scout Master.
In 1993, Marie relocated to San Angelo to be nearer her daughters, where she became an active member at Sierra Vista United Methodist Church. She continued her sewing even after her health started failing and she had to move to Robert Lee Care Center. She sewed for that new family, mending, making Covid masks, bags, and bibs until two weeks before her passing.
Marie was known for both her tenderness as well the length of her prayers. She was never bashful about anything and that was especially true of her Christian faith.
Marie is survived by her children and their families Ralph and Patti Dowling of Rock Hall, Maryland, Judy (Dowling) and Tim Turner of Water Valley/San Angelo, Mary Ann (Dowling) Hill of Robert Lee, and Pat and Irene Dowling of Austin. She is also survived by her grandchildren Tara (Turner) and Wes Langerhans, Katrina Dowling, Amanda (Turner) and Jeremy Horak, Lauren (Dowling) and Jacob Webster, Bryan Dowling, and Mason Hill, as well as bonus grandchildren Jon Dumaran, Michaela (Marotta) and Christian Bennett, and Gabriella Marotta. She deeply loved her 6 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, and nephews. Marie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Wayne, her brother and sister-in-law Bill and Peggy McDaniel, and in-laws Thelma and Willard Dowling.
The family wishes for you to remember Marie’s ever present smile and song in her heart. In lieu of flowers, please do an act of kindness to someone in her honor, or donations can be made to your favorite charity.
Special thanks go to the Staff of Robert Lee Care Center (her precious Bonus Family), and Kindred Hospice of San Angelo for making her life brighter.
Marie’s funeral will be held Friday, September 3, at 10 am at Forest Park Lawndale in the Chapel of Angels, 6900 Lawndale, Houston, TX, followed by a graveside at 11 am. Visitation will be held the preceding evening in their Main Building from 5-8 pm. A Memorial Service will be held the following week in San Angelo on Wednesday, September 8 at 4:30 pm at Sierra Vista UMC, 4522 College Hills Blvd., San Angelo, TX.