Mary "Phyllis" Mcdowell

Mary Phyllis (Paulson) McDowell was born August 23, 1948 in Estherville, Iowa to Jerome Kenneth Paulson and Phyllis Colleen (Reynolds) Paulson. She grew up in Estherville, then went to Florida for a few years before moving to Perry. Phyllis was in the St. Patrick's Catholic School's last graduating class. On September 30, 1968 she married her true love Kenneth David McDowell at the St. Patrick Catholic Church. The couple stayed in Perry and were blessed with a son David Christopher and a daughter Mary Colleen. Phyllis worked at her father's Dairy Stripe during the summers growing up. She enjoyed going camping, doing word searches, crossword puzzles, and playing games on her computer. Phyllis worked in the Hy-Vee deli for about 7 years, then at Naylor's Service Center for 20 years. She was a devoted member to the First Christian Church in Perry, teaching Sunday School for many years, she was a Deaconess, helped with the youth, and after retirement Phyllis helped with the Clothes Closet. She passed away at her home on July 17, 2023. Phyllis is preceded in death by her father Jerome, husband Kenneth David McDowell in December 2022, brother-in-law Bob Williams, mother-in-law LaVon McDowell, and father-in-law Kenneth McDowell. She will be dearly missed by her mother Colleen Paulson of Emmetsburg; son Chris McDowell of Des Moines; daughter Colleen Weir of Perry; grandchildren: Maddi Cross (Avery), Sara Weir (Cruz), Abbi Weir (Taevis), Riley McDowell, Ashley Sims, Kourtney Harding, and Eli Ballard; great-grandchildren: Olyvia Cross, Isaac Sanchez, Anthony Sanchez, and Noelle Sims; brothers: Keith Paulson of Virginia Beach and J.B. Paulson of Wallingford; sisters: Linda Luethje (Greg) of Cedar Falls and Jenny Williams of Davenport; sister-in-law Kathy Otten (Denny) of Linn Grove; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. *Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Family greeting hours will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 21, 2023 at the First Christian Church in Perry. *Memorials are suggested to St. Croix Hospice in Panora, Iowa and may also be sent to Hastings Funeral Home - P.O. Box #204 - Perry, IA 50220. Previous Events Visitation JUL 20. 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM (CT) Hastings Funeral Home - Perry 1417 Second Street Perry, IA 50220 (515) 465-4691 hastings@minburncomm.net Family Greeting Hours 5:00 - 8:00 PM JUL 20 (CT) Hastings Funeral Home - Perry 1417 Second Street Perry, IA 50220 (515) 465-4691 hastings@minburncomm.net Funeral Service JUL 21. 11:00 AM (CT) First Christian Church 1224 Lucinda St. Perry, IA 50220