Mary McDowall Obituary

Mary Lou (Queck) McDowall was born September 21, 1930 to Henry Paul and Pauline Elizabeth (Miller) Queck on a farm at Fontanelle, Iowa. She passed away on Friday, August 8th at the age of 94 while living in Spring Hill, Florida. She was surrounded by love and family at the time of her passing.

Mary was raised on a farm in Richland Township, Orient, Iowa. She attended Richland School and graduated Salutatorian of the Class of 1947. She attended Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in Maryville, Missouri graduating in 2 1/2 years with her teaching degree. Mary was a teacher for five years in several towns in Iowa.

On October 1, 1950 she was united in marriage to Robert Royce McDowall at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, Iowa. Mary and Bob resided in Greenfield, Iowa for 10 years. Mary and Bob's first child, Jennie, was born while they lived in Adair County. In 1960, Bob and Mary purchased and operated Horseshoe Bay Lodge, a family and fishing resort, in Walker, Minnesota. They enhanced the resort many fold and hosted innumerable repeat guests.

Additional children, Jim and Jane, were born in Minnesota. In 1973, the family moved to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri and then on to Springfield, Missouri in 1975. In 1976, Mary and Bob bought the Broadway Motor Inn in Edmond, Oklahoma. Later, Mary was an Administrative Assistant for a financial advisor firm before retiring. Mary & Bob lived in Edmond for over 30 years. In 2008, Bob and Mary moved to Homosassa, Florida where they retired. Then in 2022 they moved to Spring Hill, Florida.

Mary was Chair of the Cancer Society in Greenfield, Iowa. Throughout her life, Mary was an avid volunteer in her church: Immanuel Lutheran, Hope Lutheran, Our Savior Lutheran, Messiah Lutheran, Prince of Peace Lutheran, Lord of Life Lutheran, Nativity Lutheran, Chair of the Call Committee for Lord of Life Church, and held various positions with the Women of the ELCA Church including President of the Oklahoma/Arkansas Women's Group for many years.

Mary loved flowers and gardening and her yard was always full of roses. She also loved quilting and she made many quilts for Lutheran World Relief.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Jennie (Thomas) Kopf, of Boulder CO; son, James (Angelique) McDowall of Webster, FL; and daughter, Jane (Dan) Obradovich of Redondo Beach, CA; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, as well as sister, Lois Frederick; brother, Bob (Barb) Queck; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

We will all miss her smile, kind advice, and her delicious cinnamon rolls.

Mary wishes for memorials to go to Oaks Indian Mission, 155 N Military Road, Oaks, OK 74359 (https://www.oaksindian mission.org/) to further their service to the native American Indian community.