Marilyn Lucille Dowdy, age 73, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock.  She was born on September 3, 1949 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Virgia Lucille Costner and Harold Everett Brooks.  Marilyn is preceded in death by parents, Harold and Lucille Brooks; husband, Wayne Dowdy; uncle, Glendell Costner; brother-in-law, Terry Mitchell.

She is survived by daughter, Marita (Tina) Moore; grandchildren, Nyrie Dowdy, Olivia Dowdy, Leo Moore and Mason Moore; sisters, Sharon (Gary) Paden, Emily (Cate) Brooks, and Glenda Mitchell; numerous amazing nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.

Marilyn was a modern day Renaissance woman who was a wealth of knowledge to all those around her. She knew all things plants, herbs, vitamins, and nutrition; was an experienced wine-maker, candle-maker, seamstress, canner, and gardener who shared her skills with everyone who was interested. Marilyn also held a B.S. in Computer Sciences from Harding University. Throughout her life, she was a cook on a riverboat, a house parent at a children's home, a foster parent, an aide in the public school system, an insurance agent, a tax preparer, owned a furniture refinishing business, a professional seamstress, and an artisan at the Ozark Folk Center craft village, just to name a few. Most recently she was the secretary for her church at School Ave. Church of Christ, a position that brought her great joy.

Marilyn loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. She grew up singing with her sisters, in church, in Bible classes, and later at the Ozark Folk Center with shapenote singers and at the Women of the Ozarks concerts. She instilled this love of music and singing in her daughter and grandchildren. Marilyn deeply loved her family, friends, and church family. Her faith in God was the foundation and core of who she was and how she lived her life. She taught cradle roll and children's Bible classes for nearly fifty years, passing on her faith to generation after generation. Seeing little ones grow in faith was one of her life's greatest joys. Never one for the spotlight, she could often be found in the background quietly serving those around her.   Her gentle, steadfast spirit was a blessing to all who were fortunate enough to meet her.

A celebration of her life will be held Saturday December 17, 2022 at 11 am at School Ave. Church of Christ in Mountain View, AR.  Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Cremation Services of Arkansas (501)313-5431. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Project Zero of Arkansas in her honor.