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Mary is buried in Memory Lawn Cemetery, Grand Ecore Road, Natchitoches, LA.
Obituary from the Natchitoches Times, May 25, 2004, page 3A
Mary Elma Dowden
Services for Mary Elma Dowden were held Sunday, May 23 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home with Dr. Larry Holly and Dr. Ira Campobell officiating.
Ms. Dowden, 61, of Houston went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Friday, May 21, 2004, in Life Solutions Hospice Care Inc. in Houston after a lengthy illness.
She was a native of Natchitoches and was a retired receptionist for Tad USA Inc.
She was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Mary Lindsey Dowden.
She is survived by her father, William "Bill" Dowden; two sons, Michael Andrew Smith and wife Blanca of Humble, Texas and William Anthony "Tony" Smith and wife Molly of Pearland, Texas; one sister, Brenda Sue Dowden of Houston; one brother; Billy Dowden of Natchitoches; four grandchildren, Brittany Lauren Smith, Ryan Taylor Smith, Stephen Michael Smith and Dillon Smith.
Pallbearers were Edwin Dowden, Roger Herrington, Jack Jenkins, Williams "Bill" Nail, Michael Richardson and Ramiro Villarreal.
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James Larry Holly, M. D.
I am so pleased to have known Mary as an adult. When my wife, Carolyn and I first visited with Mary she was in a nursing home due to illness. Her smile was always there and her spirits were always high. When Carolyn and I visited her for the last time, shortly before her death, I had one of those child-like moments. In a tender moment, I. Kissed Her on the cheek and thought, "If I would ever have done that in high school, I would have fainted probably just after she slapped me.
I remember the moment when Mary arrived at our 40th reunion. I saw Brenda Dowden (her sister) rolling her down the aisle in the auditorium at NHS. She looked so angelic, all I could think of to say was, "Hello, Mary." She was not going to come but when we sent her a huge bouquet of flowers, the staff of her residence said, "They must love you a great deal; you have to go to that reunion."
Our 40th was richer because she was there -- Brad Hammonds came for many reasons but one was that Mary was there -- our 50th will be brighter for our memories of her.
Larry Holly