Obituary of William D. McDowell

William D. McDowell, a longtime Harborite and Aberdeen (Central Park) resident from 1957 to 2008 and current resident of Lacey, Washington, passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, April 11, 2014, from a short term battle with cancer. William, known as Bill to many, Billy Boy to others, Grampi to his grandchildren, and Wiley Coyote to his longtime Sheriff buddies, lived a full life and leaves a legacy of memories to those whose lives he touched. Bill was born in Van Nuys, California, on October 10, 1923, to Fred W. and Sarah A. McDowell. His school years were spent in Santa Barbara, California. Bill was an only child, and both parents passed away in his youth, his mother when he was nine and father when he was 15 years old. Soon after the passing of his parents, Bill joined the US Naval Reserve and, in 1941, found himself aboard a US Navy transport, carrying British Troops in the Indian Ocean before Pearl Harbor days. Bill served in the South Pacific and European African Campaigns. He left the Navy in 1945. In 1947, he married the first love of his life, Jean Cleland, the nurse who cared for him when he had lost the use of his eye from an earlier accident. Jean passed away of cancer in 1976. They have two children, both living, John C. McDowell of the Portland, Oregon area, and Linda J. McDowell Logan of Long Beach, Washington. In 1976, Bill married Lucille Ramsey Randall, a resident of Grays Harbor. Bill cared for Lucille while she passed away with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 1988. Bill met his third love in 1988, Shirley McGee, and they were married in 1990. Bill is survived by Shirley of Lacey, Washington; stepdaughters, Terri Dill Johnson of Olympia, Washington, and Susan Dill Anderson of Kenmore, Washington; seven grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and 10 great-great grandchildren. Bill loved the outdoors, including trap shooting and fishing. He spent some time after the war fishing commercially in Alaska and then later with his own boat, “The Chesty,” out of Westport, Washington. He also spent time both in the Los Angeles area and in Washington in outdoor advertisement, hanging billboards. Service was a big part of Bill’s life. In 1963, he changed his career and joined the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Department. He had many a story to tell to his posterity of the days of being a sheriff, and enjoyed those years of service until he retired in 1976. He was proud of being a 32nd Degree Mason and an Aberdeen #52, V.F.W. U.R.A. Bill will be interred at the Wynoochee Cemetery in Montesano in the family plot. A graveside service will be held and announced at a later date. Please leave memories of Bill or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.