Obituaries

Betty Jo (Henry) McDowell of Friendsville, Tennessee, born 10 January 1932, went to be with her Lord on 6 February 2022 in Huntsville, Alabama.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Kenneth, and their sons Chris and Jeff McDowell. She also was preceded in death by her parents, Obie and Carrie (Blair) Henry of Friendsville, brother Tom D. Henry (Marjean) of Spokane, Washington and sister-in-law Betty (Lonas) Henry of Friendsville. She is survived by her brother George B Henry of Friendsville, Tennessee.  Betty Jo was preceded in death by all of the the McDowell Brothers and their wives: Wayne (Mildred Jo Clift), Billy (Alice Baker), and Joe (Mary Charles Cunningham) McDowell.  Betty Jo is survived by her daughter Sylvia “Missy” McDowell Gingrich (Carter) of Barragada, Guam and daughter-in-law Vickie (Chris) McDowell of Gatlinburg. She is also survived by her five grandchildren: Paul McDowell of Gatlinburg, Katherine Gingrich (Aaron Shannon) of Knoxville,  Meredith McDowell of Gatlinburg, John McDowell Gingrich of Shaw AFB, South Carolina, and Benjamin (Savannah) McDowell of Huntsville, Alabama.  She is further survived by three great-granddaughters: Annabelle and Emma McDowell of Gatlinburg and Lillian McDowell of Huntsville, Alabama.  She is also survived by wonderful nieces and nephews and their families. Betty Jo was born in Unitia and graduated from the Friendsville Quaker Academy. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Friendsville for decades. She retired from the State of Tennessee Department of Employment Security and worked in unemployment offices. Betty Jo was blessed with many friends and especially dear friends Bud and Virginia Hitch, Jerry and Wanda Hayes, Priscilla Lacy Morton Bell, and Calvin and Martha Lynch of Friendsville. And, for the last eight years of her life, Marcus Langford and his family in Huntsville, Alabama.