Rose Ellen Mask McDowell

On Tuesday evening March 19, 2024, Rose Ellen Mask McDowell, 74, resident of Falkner, departed this life from the Region One Health Center in Memphis.

Visitation for Mrs. McDowell will be from 5 PM to 8 PM Friday, March 22 in the Heritage Chapel of Ripley Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 11 AM Saturday, March 23 at Falkner Baptist Church with Bro. Jeff Moore and Bro. Joe Spencer officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. McDowell was born March 28, 1949, in Tippah County, the daughter of the late Roy and Gracie Viola Pannell Mask. She received her education from the Pine Grove Public School System and on October 14, 1966, married her beloved husband, Hubert Lee Holland McDowell, who survives.  Mrs. McDowell was a valued employee of the North Tippah School System for 32 years where she served as cafeteria manager for Falkner High School and Falkner Elementary School. 

A dedicated member of Falkner Baptist Church since 1997, Mrs. McDowell enjoyed helping prepare for luncheons, Vacation Bible School, showers, funerals and the Nursery. A dedicated wife, mother and grandmother, she loved cooking, gardening and canning which she shared her produce with the community and tending to plants and flowers which were grown in her own greenhouse. With a strong devotion to her family, Mrs. McDowell will be remembered for the adoration for her grandchildren and friends, also, the respect she received from her children. Favorite hobbies included quilting and collecting cookbooks.

In addition to her husband of 57 years, memories will continue to be cherished by one daughter, Bridgette McDowell of Falkner, two sons, Charlie McDowell (Marsha) of Tiplersville and Keith McDowell (Sherie) of Ripley, two sisters, Kat Cooper of Dumas and Ruth Thweatt of Ecru, two brothers, Frank Mask and Billy Roy Mask, both of Dumas, seven grandchildren,  B.J. Whitten (Kimberly), Rusty Whitten (Shannon), Jonathan McDowell (Mary Liz), Brian McDowell, Molly Reesor (Brock), Cindy Elliott (Heath) and Brooklyn Wood, four great grandchildren, Raye Whitten, Grayson Whitten, Conner McDowell, Hayes Elliott and Rhett Elliott who is making his appearance in later March, and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Grissom and a brother, Buck Mask.

The family request that memorials be directed to the Gideons, PO Box 4, Ripley, MS 38663

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