Maura Jane Dowden

GLOSTER, LA - Maura Jane Dowden, 84, of Gloster, LA, died peacefully on Sunday, August 9, 2015 in Shreveport, LA with her loving family by her side. Funeral services honoring her life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at Rose-Neath Southside in Shreveport, LA; with Rev. Ron McLellan officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Park West Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Maura Jane was born August 20, 1930 in Hornbeck, LA to Silas Alton and Stella (Robinson) Dowden. She was married to her high school sweetheart, Tommy Ray Dowden, from 1947 until his death in 2008. They moved to Shreveport in the early 1950's where she provided a loving and supportive home as her husband built a successful plastering business. In 1980, they moved to their beloved farm in Gloster where they would spend the rest of their lives fishing, porch sitting, raising cattle, foxhounds, chickens, a garden, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Maura Jane's life work was that of a loving and devoted wife, mother, and "Granny." She loved her family unconditionally. Her kindness and warm, loving personality made her easily adored by everyone she met. She was a long time member of Gloster Baptist Church and the DeSoto Quilters. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; three brothers, Marlin, Charles, and Billy Dowden; and granddaughter, Heather Jilg. Left to cherish her memory is her sister, Doris Bello; brother, Ronnie Dowden; two sons, Gerald Dowden and wife, Vellen, and Douglas Dowden and wife, Dian; daughter, Deborah Dees and husband, Jim Wood; grandchildren, Valerie Wells, Chantel Mynes, Gerald Dowden, Jr., Thomas Dowden, Lacey Rego, Haley Perryman, Phillip Dees, Jr., Maura Gardner; and eighteen great-grandchildren. Honoring Maura Jane as pallbearers will be her grandsons; Gerald Dowden, Jr., Thomas Dowden, Phillip Dees, Jr., Michael Gardner, Dalton Dowden and Devyn Metcalf. Memorials may be made to any charity of donor's choice.