Barbara Ann McDowell

Barbara Ann Fletcher McDowell entered her heavenly home on February 15, 2023. Barbara was born on September 16, 1942, in Amarillo, TX.  She was raised in Amarillo and graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1961 and West Texas State University.  Most of her life was spent in Amarillo with a special decade later in life spent in California with her daughter, Kristy, and family.

While she held several jobs over the years (American Airlines and owning/operating a flower shop and a daycare), her most beloved and treasured job was being called “Mom” and “Nana Banana”.  In addition to her faith in Jesus, family was her number one priority.  She gave her all to raising her kids and pouring herself into each of them and then later to grandkids and great-grandkids. Barbara loved all the extra touches she could do to make people feel loved and special.  She was drawn to the color yellow, which tied in well with the banana part of her what her grandkids affectionately called her…but it also tied in with her sunny, happy personality that made her so easy to be around.

Barbara treasured life in every way as was evidenced by a decision early on to sacrificially give life to her firstborn followed by the gift of adoption to a couple unable to have children. A reunion happened 20 years ago, and Barbara felt blessed to know the incredible impact of that choice.

Barbara’s legacy of love, joy, wit and compassion will live on in her survivors which include her children: Lori McAmis Carter (Buddy), Kristy McDowell Kelly (Greg), Randy McDowell (Denise), Tracy McDowell Bell (Shawn Tortella), Jeff McDowell (Lacie), her grandchildren, Josh (Deena) Carter, Sam (Haley) Carter, Ben (Kait) Carter, Trent (Clara) Kelly, Blake (Lora) Kelly, Cam Kelly, Brianne (Cade) Clinton, Berklee (Stefan) Scott, Kenzie Dressler, Kayden Dressler, Brecken (Heather) Dressler, Jarett McDowell, Kye McDowell, and great-grandchildren, Noah, Grae, and Wade Carter, Myles and Eli Carter, Walker, Halle and Crue Scott and Knox Clinton. She was preceded in death by her parents, J.B Fletcher and Reba Fletcher and great-grandchild, Elliott Scott.

Visitation will be Friday, February 17th from 5:00-7:00 pm at LaGrone-Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Home located at 8310 Coulter Street.  A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, February 18th at 10:00 am at LaGrone-Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Home.  Burial immediately following at Llano Cemetery.

To honor the life of Barbara McDowell you can choose to faithfully follow Jesus, hug your family often, love others well and wear bright colors…especially yellow.