Cletus E. Dowless

Cletus E. Dowless obituary, Elizabethtown, NC

Cletus E. Dowless

Cletus Dowless Obituary

Visit the Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Elizabethtown website to view the full obituary.

Cletus E. Dowless, 89, of Bladenboro passed away on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Nealey and Sallie Davis Dowless; wife Betty Melvin Dowless, daughter, Gwenda Smith; son, Dale Dowless; brothers, Warren and Gurney Dowless, and sister, Gladys Pharr.

Cletus looked forward to Sunday nights when his children and grandchildren came over to eat. Cletus loved to coon hunt, train dogs to coon hunt. You would often see him sitting in his chair watching westerns or listening to Gaither’s singing, but his all-time favorite thing was watching Gun Smoke. He enjoyed going to the mountains with his wife, while they were there, they would enjoy going to the singing on the mountains. After planting season was over, you would find him sitting on the farm watching the crops grow.

He is survived by his son, Ronnie Dowless and wife Peggy of Bladenboro; two brothers, Harold and Kenneth Dowless both of Bladenboro; sister, Sallie O’Sullivan of Elizabethtown; grandchildren: Clayton,  his children, Catherine and Kimberly; Crystal, her children, Travis, Noah, and Colt; Henry,  his daughter, Addie; Lisa, her son, Jeremy; Carrie,  her daughter, Georgia; Ashley,  her daughter, Natalie; Amanda,  her children, Emma and Ellie; Bobby Dale,  his children, Luke and Joseph, a granddaughter Keana, and a great-great granddaughter Harper.

The family will receive friends on Monday, November 20, 2023, from 6:00pm until 8:00 pm at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 2:00pm at Henry Allen Cemetery with Rev. Jerry Beck officiating.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Elizabethtown

3131 Martin Luther King Drive PO Box 3150, Elizabethtown, NC 28337

Make a Donation
in Cletus Dowless's name

How to support Cletus's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Cletus Dowless's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more