Chester "Mac" MacDowell

Chester "Mac" Mac Dowell

Chester Mac Dowell, known to family and friends as Mac, Grandpa Mac and Daddy Do, passed away at his home in Reno on 2-11-2013.

He was 90, and would have celebrated his 91st birthday on 2-16-2013

He was born in Grand Ledge, MI, where he grew as a boy and loved fishing trips with his father and grandfather.

In 1940, he joined the US Navy and attended various submarine schools throughout the country. He was so proud to fight for his country during World War II and proudly spoke of his six years on the USS R-17, USS R-12, USS R-16, USS R-18, USS CARP, and was especially honored that he was able to commission the USS TORSK. He received the WWII Victory Medal.

On February 7th, 1944, he married the love of his life, Laura Marie LeBeau. Together they raised four children, and have had the pleasure and truly love spending time with their 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

In 1948, he joined the US Postal Office, enjoying his 29 years serving the public through door-to-door mail delivery, eventually becoming superintendent of the main Post Office in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mac is survived by his wife, Laura; children, Tamara and George with two children that preceded him in death, Melody and Richard.

He was a life member (67 years) of the Elks Lodge and devoted much of his time to various VFW groups and he especially enjoyed transporting disabled veterans from Fallon, Nevada to Reno, Nevada on a weekly basis where they would receive medical treatments.

He was a very humble, quiet at times, amazingly kind, gentle man with a dry sense of humor that brought a smile to all who knew him. Most importantly, a man of faith, which led him through his life. There will not be a day that he will not be missed and we thank God for the 90 years that He gave us. A special thank you to St. Mary's hospice and the team that helped Mac with his final journey.

A service at the Fernley Veteran's Memorial Cemetery at 11:00am on 2/15/2013.