Willette Dowdy

SULLIVAN -- Willette Dowdy, 82, formerly of Dexter, died Feb. 15, 2008, at the Meramec Nursing Center at Sullivan.

Born Jan. 13, 1926, in Grayridge, to the late Walter Earl and Gladys Bradbury Tharp, she was a former proofreader for Fact Inc. in St. Louis.

On Oct. 13, 1947, in Paragould, Ark., she married Bennie Carl Dowdy, who preceded her in death on Dec. 20, 1989.

One son, Robert Dowdy; and one sister, Hazel Baldwin, also preceded her in death.

Survivors include: one son, Rodger Tharp of Essex; two daughters, Janie Forrester of Owensville and Susan Dismang of Sullivan; one sister, Ruth Maxine Brown of Perryville; and seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Services were conducted Monday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with the Rev. James Malloy officiating.

Burial followed in the Essex Cemetery.