Myrlene Dowden

Myrlene Lucille (Fike) Dowden, was born October 4, 1923, in northern Wright County, Missouri, and departed this life September 24, 2022, in Mountain Grove, Missouri, ten days before her ninety-ninth birthday.

Myrlene’s father, Roy H. Fike, (1897 – 1976) was born and was raised in Laclede County, Missouri. Roy met Mary L. Davis (1897 – 1947) in 1917 in Idaho. They married and had Tom (1920 – 1962). Roy and Mary moved to Laclede County, Missouri, and farmed on the Gasconade River and had Virginia Dial (1922 – 1983). Roy had a severe case of pneumonia and they decided to move back to Idaho for Roy’s health. That’s why Myrlene was born in Wright County. Roy’s brother, Elbie, and wife, Edith, lived on the Reuben Nobles place which had a nice large house. Aunt Edith took care of Mary and little Myrlene until they were able to take the train back to Idaho. Ken was born there in 1926, followed by Alpha “June” Fike (1928 – 2019) and Dorothy Jordan (1931 – 2020). Roy’s homestead in Idaho was at the end of an irrigation ditch and often got too much or too little water. They moved back to Missouri to a farm west of Competition near the Porter Chapel Church, where Glenda was born in 1937. Glenda and her husband, Joe Underwood, live in Illinois. Glenda and Ken are the only siblings Myrlene has left.

Myrlene went to grade school in Star, Idaho, and then went to Fair Knob north-east of her home. She went to High School at Competition, south of her home. Myrlene was saved and attended Porter Chapel Church.

When Myrlene married Ralph W. Dowden (1917 - 2001) on November 15, 1941, they attended the Mings Church (Happy Hill). She taught Sunday School and played piano in various churches including Lynchburg, Green Mountain, and Manes Baptist churches. She attended Evening Shade Community Church until she went to the nursing home.

Myrlene had a stillborn son on January 30, 1943, and a stillborn daughter on December 30, 1970, almost 28 years apart. Both are buried at Porter Chapel Cemetery along with many other relatives and friends.

Ralph and Myrlene’s kids and their offspring are as follows: Leo married Becky (Patterson) and had Laura (Jason Davis), Hannah, and Emily (Kyle Estes). Their son, Isaiah Clell is five years old. Leo married Becky (Rogers) who had Katie Roy. Katie married Joel Pittman who happens to be a great-grandson of Myrlene’s best friend, Marilyn Patterson. Joel and Leo have a common ancestor buried in the Mount Carney Cemetery, Sarah Byerley Patterson. Katie and Joel live nearby and their children are Charlie Jane and Magnolia. Leo and Becky had Elijah Thomas Dowden in 1998 and Abel Fike Dowden in 2000. Abel and Rachelle have a new baby named Elsie. Elijah and Kora will have a baby girl around Thanksgiving. Lonnie and Debbie (Fry) Dowden had a daughter, Sara, who married Andy Thompson and their children are Madeline and Thaddeus. Lonnie and Debbie’s next son, Justin Ralph, died in a car accident at the age of 20. The next son was Al Douglas who married Mary (Wade). They have five children, Hannah, Brystol, Paisley, Justin Ralph, and Mia. Ralph and Myrlene’s daughter, Jan, lives at Osage Beach and has no children but has many adoring nieces and nephews.

Ralph’s siblings who preceded Myrlene in death were Ray, Myrtle Weber, Roy, Velma Chambers, Della Crismon-Newton, Dorothy Hunt, and Coy. Only Carl, age 95, survives. Many nieces and nephews are left who will miss both Myrlene and her cooking very much! Her grandchildren have fond memories of singing around her piano and taking long walks with her and her cats, looking for pretty rocks. She sewed hundreds of quilts and baby quilts and various clothes for friends and family. Until the end of her life, she enjoyed singing hymns and reading her Bible.

Both Ralph and Myrlene’s families have sketches in the Laclede County and Wright County family history books.