Priscilla Wadley Dowdy

Peacefully at home, Priscilla Rose Wadley Dowdy, 82, of Jackson made her final journey to her Lord and Savior on Monday, June 8, 2020.

She and her twin sister, Patricia, were born July 12, 1937, in Mound City, Illinois, to George and Allie Caldwell Caywood. She and Mike Wadley were married Sept. 18, 1963, in Cairo, Illinois. Four children were born to their union.

The Wadley family moved to Jackson in 1969 and became active members of Jackson Assembly of God Church. Priscilla worked for TCI and Charter.

The Wadleys had many happy years together, but Mike struggled with diabetes, and the disease took his life in 1989. It was a difficult season for the family.

As years passed, Priscilla reconnected with a childhood friend, Paul Dowdy, from Wickliffe, Kentucky. They married April 22, 1995. With their children grown and married, they ventured out with friends, camping all over the U.S. and sometimes traveling abroad. They especially enjoyed attending church at Lynwood Baptist in Cape Girardeau.

Priscilla was an excellent cook and was a regular at Jackson Homecomers and St. Louis Cardinals baseball games, but she never missed a grandchild's recital, birthday, baseball game or graduation. Her devotion to her grandchildren was unmatched. Against the wishes of their parents, Priscilla always kept stockpiles of candy, ice cream and doughnuts for the grandkids.

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2010, Priscilla was one of the few who survived the illness. Doctors and nurses were amazed at her spirit and how she refused to give up. She would continue to have a zest for life and go on to have one more grandchild and two more great-grandchildren.

Tragedy would strike the family again, when both her first-born son and first-born grandson, James D. and Austin K. Wadley, died in a motorcycle accident in September 2016. She then lost her husband, Paul, in July 2019.

To cherish her memory, Priscilla leaves her children, Darin (Beth) Wadley, Debbie (Gabe) Martinez and Doug (Ursulla) Wadley; daughter-in-law, Rhonda (the late David) Wadley; stepsons, Cary (Jovy) Dowdy and Luke Dowdy; grandchildren, Trey (Chloe) Wadley, Megan (Jake) Monteith, Caleb (Cassidy) Wadley, Drew Wadley, Reid Wadley, Eliza Wadley, Kyle Wadley, Summer Wadley and Mirrenn Martinez; stepgrandchildren, Falon and Kinley Dowdy; two great-grandchildren, Haven Monteith and Kinzley Wadley, and three more great-grandchildren on the way (two more Wadleys and another Monteith); her twin sister, Patricia Calvin; three Wadley sisters-in-law, Judy (Steve) Williams, Lee Anne (Danny) Hood and Judy (the late Roger) Wadley; and many loving Dowdy family members in Wickliffe.

Priscilla was preceded in death by her first husband, Mike Wadley; their son and grandson, David and Austin Wadley; and her second husband, Paul Dowdy.

Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday at Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

The Rev. Mark Anderson will officiate the funeral at 3 p.m. Thursday at the church. Interment will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, where Priscilla will be laid to rest next to Mike.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Cape First Missions Fund or Lynwood Baptist Missions Fund.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab on Priscilla's personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.

McCombs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.