Ethel Dowell

Ethel Louise Beatty Dowell, 93, of Mountain City, TN, went home to be with our Lord on Thursday, December 25, 2025, at Mountain City Care & Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Athens, OH, on January 4, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Watson Beatty and Elsie McClain Beatty. Ethel met her late husband, John William Dowell, at a dance, and they were married for 71 years.

Ethel worked several years for Burlington Industries and retired as food service worker from Johnson County Schools at the age of 72, making many friends and leaving a lasting impression on everyone she met. She loved quilting, traveling, collecting spoons from around the world, playing bingo, and, most importantly, spending time with her family. Throughout the years, she traveled more than 50,000 miles across the country on the back of a motorcycle with her husband and was affectionately nicknamed “Motorcycle Momma” by her children. Ethel was a member of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ in Vilas, NC, and her faith was central to her life.

She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Jean Steele of Lenoir, NC; sons, John Russell Dowell (Patti) of Elkton, MD, Robert Dean Dowell (Rhonda) of Elkton, MD, and Charles Ray Dowell (Margaret) of Mountain City, TN; grandchildren, John Jr. (Lisa), Farrah, Tara, Tiffany, Jason (Erin), Amanda, and Josh (Samantha); great-grandchildren, Paige, Nolan, Gavin, Zander, Marissa, Gage, Jayde, Jackson, and Daisy; great-great-granddaughter, Bailee; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Ethel was preceded in death by her siblings, Eula Klinger, Robert Beatty, Mary Napper, Mable Stout, Ralph Beatty, Edna Coen, Thelma Hartman, Grace Gibson, and Harold Beatty, and by her grandson, Justin Robert Dowell.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026, at Mountain City Funeral Home with Rev. Terry Carver to officiate, 224 S. Church St., Mountain City, TN, where friends may call from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 999 Honeysuckle St., Mountain City, TN. Pallbearers will be Johnny Dowell, Jason Dowell, Josh Dowell, Nolan Dowell, Gavin Dowell, and Gage Dowell.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mountaincityfh.com

The family of Ethel Dowell has entrusted her services to Mountain City Funeral Home, 224 S. Church Street, Mountain City, Tennessee 37683.