Mary Carol Kindred Dowell

Mary Carol Kindred Dowell, 70, of Astoria, died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, in Portland, after complications from pneumonia. She was born March 1, 1941, in Dallas, Ore., to David and Lavina Kindred. In 1959, she graduated from Astoria High School, but also attended Ketchikan High School in Alaska for two years. On Dec. 20, 1969, she married Kenneth E. Dowell in Astoria. He preceded her in death. The couple blended eight children into one household. Mrs. Dowell spent most of her life in the Astoria/Warrenton area. She began bartending at the Astoria Elks Club in 1968, and continued there as manager until 1988. In 1976, she and her husband bought a 20-acre farm in Olney. In 1995, she moved to Vancouver, Wash., and returned to Astoria in 2003, to be a nanny for two great-nieces. In 2008, she moved into Clatsop Retirement Village. She is survived by seven children, Carroll Gene Hageman, Mary Jean, Beverly J., Timothy J., Kenneth R. and Jon P. Dowell and Rita M. (Dowell) McCall; 19 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two sisters; and four brothers. A memorial will be held at 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Newlife Baptist Church in Astoria. Memorial contributions maybe made to the Newlife Baptist Church, 490 Olney Ave., Astoria, OR 97103. Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at caldwellsmortuary.com