Lois M. Macdowell

MacDowell, Lois (Lou) M.
85, a longtime resident of Fountain Hills, passed away peacefully with her husband, Bill and daughter, Joni at her side, on Feb. 13, 2013. She was born on March 15, 1927, in Hartley, Iowa. She was the daughter of William and Alice Gathman and was the 2nd born child out of 10. She graduated from Hartley High School in 1945 and became a teacher at the country school in Hartley. She taught all grades in one room and had many funny stories about that. She also helped her high school sweetheart; William (Bill) MacDowell run his family owned Movie Theater. She always said she loved him for his POPCORN! Lois and Bill were married Sept. 12, 1947 and continued to live in Hartley, where they had 3 daughters. In 1957 they moved to Mesa, AZ to start a new life. They had another daughter five years later. Lois was an excellent homemaker who loved her family and friends dearly! She had an interior design business with her sister in the late 1970's to the early 1980's. In 1987 she and Bill moved to Fountain Hills, where she found the home of her dreams. She loved all the mountain views and the small town feeling of Fountain Hills.
She is survived by her loving and adoring husband, of over 65 years, Bill, Fountain Hills, AZ; 3 daughters, Joni MacDowell of Fountain Hills, AZ., Peggy Firestone of Fountain Hills, AZ and Susan Shomperlen (Glenn) of WA.
12 Grandchildren; Nicholas Branson of Fountain Hills, AZ , Celeste Perkins of Phoenix, AZ, Shelley Perkins of Phoenix, AZ, Shannon Firestone of Fountain Hills, AZ, Dustin Firestone of Fountain Hills, AZ , Chaney (Jon) Christen of Mesa, AZ Casey (Terri) Huish of Mesa, AZ, Stephanie Shomperlen of Fort McDowell, AZ, Brent Ricketts (Sunshine) of Charles Town, WV, Craig (Rebecca) Ricketts of Roanoke, VA, Dory (Jason) Harrington of Gilbert, AZ, and Jonathan MacDowell of Mesa, AZ.
12 Great-Grandchildren; Brooklyn Firestone of Ftn.Hills, AZ, Dalton Christen of Mesa, AZ, Kayla Christen of Mesa, AZ, Hunter Huish of Mesa, AZ, Christopher (Magan) East of Maricopa, AZ Elizabeth Ricketts of WV, William Ricketts of WV, Olivia Ricketts of VA, Andrew Ricketts of VA, Adelyn Elam of Gilbert, AZ, Renton Harrington of Gilbert, AZ, and Catherine MacDowell of Mesa, AZ.
1 Great-Great-Grandchild; Shyaira East of Maricopa, AZ
She is also survived by 3 sisters; Peggy (Orv) Brunk of Canton, South Dakota, Jean (Max) Graves of Phoenix, AZ, and Sandy (Bob) Hoffman of Esterville, IA; 3 brothers; Doug Gathman of Spirit Lake, IA, Larry (Terri) Gathman of Springfield, MO, and Roger (Lory) Gathman of Hartley, IA, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and many more relatives and friends. Lois was preceded in death by her daughter, Catherine S. MacDowell, her parents, sisters, Billie, and Patricia; 1 brother, Robert and other special family and friends. Lois will be deeply missed by her family and friends. She was the sweetest, kindest, most loving person you could ever know. And when she was funny, she was REALLY funny! She truly was an angel on this earth.