Jean Hall Dowell, 83, a lifelong resident of Calvert County, died September 14 at her residence in Owings. Jean was born July 19, 1926 in Prince Frederick to Manning W. and Evelyn Hutchins Hall.

She was raised in Prince Frederick, attended Calvert County public schools and graduated from Calvert High School, class of 1944. She attended Baltimore Business School with her sister Betty while living at the Women's Christian Home on St. Paul Street. She returned to the county, worked at the County Trust Company Bank in Prince Fredrick, and married Henry Wilson Dowell, Jr. on September 27, 1947. They lived and raised their family on the Dowell family farm in Owings, where she was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. They were married for 49 years until Wilson's death in 1996.

Jean was a lifelong member of Mt. Harmony United Methodist Church in Owings where she served as Treasurer of the United Methodist Women. She was active in the Red Bird Mission, coordinated the Daffodil Sunday during the Easter season and was the alter flower chairperson for many years. She was a volunteer at the Calvert County Fair for 35 years, and won many awards for her Fair entries. She was a Calvert County Election Judge, was active in P.T.A., and was a member of American Mothers, Inc., where she served as President of the Maryland Association of American Mothers from 1987-1998, and was recognized as Maryland Mother of the Year in 1981. Jean was an accomplished gardener, loved flowers, and was known for her baking.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son H. Wilson "Sonny" Dowell III, a brother Glenn Manning Hall (Marian) and a sister Betty Hall Stifler (Robert).

She is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Judy Leavitt (Jon), Brenda Paul (Stuart) and Becky Buffalini (Ken); grandsons Jason and Justin Leavitt, and a brother Homer Hall (Susan), all of Owings. She is also survived by step-grandchildren Christopher Buffalini of Huntingtown, Kelly Paul of Philadelphia and Allison Paul of Tennessee.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.

Funeral Service
September 17, 2009
11:00 A.M.
Location: Mount Harmony United Methodist Church

Visitation
September 16, 2009
2:00-4:00 & 7:00-9:00 P.M.
Location: Rausch Funeral Home - Owings, MD