Keith R. McDowell

Keith R. McDowell, 74, passed away on April 23, 2018

Keith Ray McDowell, 74, passed away on Monday, April 23, 2018, in Bartlesville, Okla.
Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m., family present 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, at the Davis Family Funeral Home, 113 S. Osage (Highway 75), Dewey, Okla.  Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 27, 2018, at the East Bartlesville Christian Church with evangelist David Bycroft officiating.  
Keith was born Dec. 25, 1943, in El Dorado, the son of Arnold and Irma (Britting) McDowell. Keith grew up at Haverhill, and attended Augusta High School. Several years later, he graduated with an Associate’s Degree (1982) and Bachelor’s Degree (1987) from Kansas State University.
Keith and Carol Hansen were married Jan. 1, 1967 at Haverhill Christian Church. He was a member of the Kansas National Guard and served a tour of duty in South Korea. Keith learned to be a meat cutter and his career included 30-plus years as a department manager for Safeway/Food Barn. In 1993, he joined the Wal-Mart team and worked for 22 plus years with logistics and merchandising in  the development of supercenter distribution centers and the packaging/handling of perishable products. He finally retired in 2016 as Operations Manager of the local Wal-Mart Distribution Center.
Keith was a faithful provider, loving husband and father, and an excellent example of a Christian man. He was active with his two boys and loved to tinker on anything mechanical with many toys through the years, including motorcycles, which he enjoyed riding with his sons. He bought both of the boys their first cars: Jeff, a ‘68 orange Chevy truck, and Brian, a ‘74 Mercury Capri. Later when Carol suggested he needed a hobby, he took it to heart and brought home a 1949 Allis Chalmers G Tractor that he took completely apart and rebuilt. This started a passion for Gravely tractors, tractor shows and clubs where he made many great friends over the years.
Keith believed in serving others and did so by volunteering his time and talents at the ARF Dog Park, Bit by Bit Theauraputic riding in Oologah, Tallgrass Prairie, Price Tower and the Bartlesville Community Center as an usher and house manager. Together Keith and Carol loved the Lord and were involved in the many church activities, oftentimes “adopting” children in the church to look after and mentor. Keith’s actions spoke much louder than words and he will be dearly missed by those that loved him.
Survivors include: his wife Carol; two sons, Jeffrey McDowell (Tammy) of Elk City, Okla. and Brian McDowell (Alisa) of Peabody, Kan. four grandchildren, Alex Holm-McDowell, Rylie McDowell, Joshua Scott McDowell and Jackson Ray McDowell; and two sisters, Mary Ann Hawley and Ava Kay McHone (Steve), both of Augusta, Kan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and step mother, Leona Dill McDowell.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to Hopestone Cancer Support Center, 206 Frank Phillips Blvd., Bartlesville, OK 74003.
Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.