Ilda McDowell

Ilda McDowell, 96, of Fruitland died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Aug. 4, 1911, in the Dogwood community, daughter of Lawrence Monroe and Ella Heuer Shaner. She and Robert Lee McDowell were married Dec. 31, 1931.

Ilda was a charter member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Fruitland. She and Robert farmed and raised their family in Fruitland. She was an active participant in community and church activities.

She is survived by four children, Mary Ella Morton, Robert and Gary McDowell, and Brenda (Johnie) Keene, all of Jackson; three grandchildren, Michael Morton, Sherrie (Matthew) Troxel, John (Jennifer) Keene; and six great-grandchildren, Matthew (Jamie) Morton, Steffan, Alex Anne, Kristian and Kyleigh Troxel, and Emilee Keene.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a brother, Howard Shaner; and a son-in-law, Robert James Morton.

Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Barry Winders and Richard Combs officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Wesley United Methodist Church or Southeast Hospice.