Aaron McDowell

Funeral services for Aaron "Jack" McDowell, of Yantis, Texas, will be held at 11:00A.M. Friday May 21, 2010 at Tapp Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jimmy Henry officiating. Burial will follow in the Yantis Cemetery with friends and family serving as pallbearers. Larry Crist, Shelby Tackett and Jim Hardy will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Aaron Jack McDowell was born April 25, 1926 in Yantis, Texas, the son of Samuel Mark McDowell and Orra May Bowie McDowell. He married Joyce Eason in Electra, Texas on June 9, 1957, she preceded him in death.

Mr. McDowell graduated from Yantis High School in 1944. He immediately joind the US Marine Corp. serving there during WWII as an expert rifleman and demolitions expert in the Pacific Area of Opeations. He received a Purple Heart while taking part in the assault on Sugar Loaf Hill on Okinawa. Of his company, B Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Marine Regiment, only 4 out of 41 men survived. In fact, his regiment sustained a 100% causality rate. He also served in the occupational forces in Jingtao, China until he was discharged in December of 1946. In honor of his military duty the Hopkins County Miliatary Coalition will conduct Military Graveside burial rites. Returning after military duty he graduated from East Texas University with degees in Vocational Agriculture and Education. He began a career in Civil Service as Assembly Line foreman at Red River Arsenal. Following this, he moved to Wichita Falls where he worked at Sheppard Air Force Base where he instructed in jet engine and helicpoter assembly for over 20 years. In 1968, he and his family moved to Hurst, Texas where he served as a helicopter inspector for the U.S. Army at Bell Helicopter. He retired from Civil Service in 1981 and began farming and raising cattle in East Texas on a full time basis. He was an avid bridge player, served as the Republican Precinct Chairman of Yantis from 1986 to 2003 as well as serving on the Yantis School Board from 1988 to 2003.

Surviving family includes his son, Stephen D. McDowell of Austin, Texas, daughter, Carol McDowell Tackett and husband Shelby of Garland, Texas, son, Landon McDowell and wife Betty of Kaufman, Texas, son Paul McDowell and wife, Theresa of Alexandria, Virginia, sister, Toby Hardy and husband Jim of Yantis, Texas, grandchildren: Lesley McDowell, Michael McDowell, Cody McDowell, Caroline McDowell Hudson, Emma McDowell, Cole McDowell and Ian McDowell. Great-grandchildren: Jack Walker, Ryan Walker, Isabella Walker, Jacob McDowell and Jordan McDowell also survive along with numerous nieces, nephew, cousins and many friends.

Mr. McDowell was preceded in death by his parents and brothers: Taylor McDowell, Elwin McDowell, Samuel M. McDowell, B.J. McDowell and an infant sister: Frankie Louise McDowell.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the veterans recovery foundation: The Fisher House Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850-5168.

Tapp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.