Connie Lou Mcdowell

Connie Lou Green McDowell, age 58, of Flagstaff, Arizona, and formerly of La Grande, Oregon and Kennewick, Washington, died February 13, 2013 in Flagstaff, Arizona, after a courageous battle with cancer. A funeral will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande. Viewing will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. Friday at Daniels~Knopp. Interment will follow at the Grandview Cemetery. Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to the Red Cross or the Susan B. Komen Foundation.

Connie was born on December 12, 1954, the daughter of Donald "Dude" and Mary (Albrethsen) Green in Jerome, Idaho. When she was three months old they moved to Wisconsin where her father was stationed for a year and then returned to Carey, Idaho, where she helped care for animals on the farm. She went to Carey Elementary School and Carey High School, where she participated in drill team, pep club and band. She graduated as Salutatorian of her class of 1973. After graduating she was accepted into the nursing program at Idaho State University. She graduated in 1977 as an R.N. From 1977 to 1979 she served a welfare service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Calli, Columbia, South America. She taught English, basic hygiene and nutrition to the people of the area. After completing her mission she moved to La Grande and worked for the Grande Ronde Hospital as a staff nurse. She met and later married Bill McDowell on September 5, 1981. She loved raising and showing her Springer Spaniels. She continued in the nursing profession for the next ten years at the La Grande Clinic. Connie cared for her two children while working as a staff nurse for the Grande Ronde Home Services. She enjoyed sewing and making quilts for the kids, spending time snow skiing, riding horses, pack trips and hiking. She enjoyed attending the sports activities and horse shows that the kids were involved with. From 2002-2004 she worked as a Department Manager for St. Elizabeth Health Services in Baker. In 2006 she and Bill divorced and she moved to Kennewick, Washington and worked as a staff R.N. For Hospice at Tri Cities Chaplaincy and later for Amedisys Home Health. On February 9, 2012 her sister Debbie came to Kennewick and moved Connie to Flagstaff where she cared for her during her illness. One of her greatest joys was doing everything with her granddaughter, Jessie. Connie always wanted to take Jessie to Disney World but didn't have the chance.

Survivors include her daughter, Jennie McDowell of Cove; son, Seth McDowell of Kennewick; granddaughter, Jessie McDowell of Kennewick; parents, Dude and Mary Green of Carey, Idaho, siblings and their spouses, Sheila Hunter of St. George, Utah, Debbie Hurst and Tom Ramsey of Flagstaff, Arizona and Kyle and Tracy Green of Carey, Idaho; and other relatives and friends.

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