Eva Mae Dowdy, daughter of the late Leslie Payne and Lorene Triplett Payne, was born on January 31, 1932 in Shawnee Town, Illinois and departed this life at her residence in Dexter on May 25, 2011 at the age of 79.

Mrs. Dowdy was a member of the Risen Church in Dexter, was a volunteer at the O.A.K.S. Senior Center, was a former employee of Elders Manufacturing, a former custodian at the First Baptist Church in Dexter and a resident of Dexter.

She was united in marriage to Wendall Dowdy on November 29, 1952 in Piggott, Arkansas. Mr. Dowdy preceded her in death on April 7, 2008.

She is survived by two sons, Larry Lee Dowdy of Fulton and Jimmy Glen Dowdy and wife Carla of Dexter; by one daughter, Kathy Jean Roberts and husband Michael of Evansville, Indiana; by one sister, Joann Patterson of Columbia; by five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one sister, Shirley Simpson.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5 - 8 p.m., Friday, May 27, 2011. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 28, 2011 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Joshua Carpenter officiating. Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.