Ruth McDowell

Ruth McDowell, 96, of Jackson passed away Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Feb. 1, 1915, in Fruitland, daughter of Elbert and Dell Price Short. She and Chester McDowell were married June 25, 1937. He preceded her in death Feb. 4, 1977.

Ruth graduated from Fruitland High School and received a teaching certificate from Southeast Missouri State University. She taught school at Fruitland several years and later worked at Jackson Hosiery Mill and Jackson shoe factory, retiring in 1979.

She was a member of Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Fruitland many years. She had been a member of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson since 1982 and was a member of Byrd's Creek Extension Club.

Ruth is survived by three children, David (Donna) McDowell of Fruitland, Nancy (David) Cheek of Mesa, Ariz., Martha Swick Clark (Wayne) of Imperial, Mo.; three grandchildren, Trent Swick of Imperial, Mandi (Cory) Nordin of Cedar Hill, Mo., Amy (Chris) Lewis of Mesa; five great-grandchildren; Madelyn, Noah and Olivia Swick, and Matthew and Evie Lewis.

She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Bill Swick.

Friends may call from noon until service time Friday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Sam Roethemeyer officiating. Interment will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Fruitland.

Memorials may be made to Pleasant Hill Cemetery Association in Fruitland.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.