‘Lou’ MacDowell

Lois (Lou) M. MacDowell, 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, and was the second 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 three daughters. In 1957 they moved to Mesa, Ariz. 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 1970s to the early 1980s.

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; three daughters, Joni MacDowell of Fountain Hills, Peggy Firestone of Fountain Hills and Susan Shomperlen (Glenn) of Washington; 12 grandchildren: Nicholas Branson of Fountain Hills, Celeste Perkins of Phoenix, Shelley Perkins of Phoenix, Shannon Firestone of Fountain Hills, Dustin Firestone of Fountain Hills, Chaney (Jon) Christen of Mesa, Casey (Terri) Huish of Mesa, Stephanie Shomperlen of Montana, Brent Ricketts (Sunshine) of West Virginia, Craig (Rebecca) Ricketts of Virginia, Dory (Jason) Harrington of Gilbert and Jonathan MacDowell of Mesa; 12 great-grandchildren: Brooklyn Firestone of Fountain Hills, Dalton Christen of Mesa, Kayla Christen of Mesa, Hunter Huish of Mesa, Christopher (Magan) East of Maricopa, Elizabeth Ricketts of West Virginia, William Ricketts of West Virginia, Olivia Ricketts of Virginia, Andrew Ricketts of Virginia, Adelyn Elam of Gilbert, Renton Harrington of Gilbert and Catherine MacDowell of Mesa; and one great-great-grandchild, Shyaira East of Maricopa.

She is also survived by three sisters, three brothers and many nieces, nephews, cousins and many more relatives and friends.

Lois was preceded in death by her daughter, Catherine S. MacDowell, her parents, two sisters, one brother and other special family and friends.

Lois will be deeply missed by her family and friends. She was the sweetest, kindest, loving person you could ever know. She truly was already an angel on this earth.