Helen Rose Butler McDowell

Helen Rose Butler McDowell, 79, of Kingwood, passed away February 3, 2020 in Kingwood.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, February 7, 2020, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel in Pampa, with Dr. Tom Lapacka, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran in Borger, officiating.  Burial will follow in Jericho Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. 

Rose was born February 12, 1940 in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, to W. Harold Butler and Helen Rose Johnston Butler. Rose grew up in Collinston, Louisiana until the ninth grade when her family moved to Pueblo, Colorado. She graduated from Centennial High School and Ambassador College in Big Sandy, with a degree in Home Economics.

Rose married Bill McDowell of Amarillo in 1960; Bill died in 2002.  During their marriage Bill and Rose lived in Pittsburgh, PA, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, Ridgecrest, CA, Albuquerque, N.M., Athens, Greece and Lafayette, LA before moving to Houston (Kingwood) in 1998. Bill was employed in the oilfield services industry for many years which contributed to their multiple moves. Rearing three sons as they moved and resettled, was an enjoyable challenge to Rose as she enjoyed being a mother to “her boys” as they were often referred to by family members. She then spent her efforts on enjoying her six grandchildren as they grew into adults.

Rose became a private pilot after Bill got his license in the early 1960’s as she thought that as a new pilot, he needed a co-pilot. Bill bought her a Cessna 150 which she loved flying and quickly got her license. They owned several single engine planes while their sons were young. Flying was a family activity.

Rose worked in the healthcare profession including teaching at the college level, published writer for magazines and anthologies, marketing, medical event planner, nutrition consultant television appearances and hospital food consultant, it was her last personal mission project that she felt the most rewarding. In 2008 she actively began assisting a woman to prove her innocence.  In 2011 Rose attended the University of Houston’s Continuing Education Paralegal Certificate Program in which she graduated with a 99-grade point average. During these years, Rose had the support and love of her family for which she is thankful.

Rose enjoyed traveling and exploring new places. Her adventurous spirit took her to Russia, when it was still a communist country. Rose spent time in Nigeria, providing a container of books for school children, and Kenya, supporting a young girl’s dream of being educated and attending college. She toured Thailand, Turkey, Israel and countless other places.  Rose’s last summers were spent with her sister, Betty, traveling and exploring her favorite part of the United States, Nevada, Arizona and California. She adoringly referred to this area as “wide open spaces of the west.”

She is survived by her three sons: Joel Scott McDowell and wife Kym of Forney, Shawn Micah McDowell and wife Pia of Kingwood, and Brandon Todd McDowell and wife Dana of Lafayette, Louisiana; six grandchildren, and her sisters, Rita Barrett of Los Angeles, California and Betty Butler of Las Vegas, Nevada. She is preceded in death by her brother, Harold Butler.

Memorials may be made to Jericho Cemetery Association, PO Box 101, Groom, Texas  79039.