Juanita Pearl Dowling went to be with her Lord and Savior on Jan. 2, 2021 at the age of 94 years 4 months and 13 days.
Juanita was born Aug. 20, 1926 to Roy and Mamie Pickens in Kirksville, Mo.. Juanita attended Banner School, Red Starr School, Diamond Front School in Western Okla. She graduated from Liberty Center High School in 1945 in Roger Mills County. Upon high school graduation, Juanita worked in the First National Bank of Leedey, Okla.
Juanita married the love of her life, Leo Edwin Dowling, in the First Baptist Church of Leedey on October 2, 1949.
Juanita “Nita” was a full-time homemaker with six children: one daughter (the eldest) and five sons. With Leo pursuing a career in Soil Conservation Service, they lived in several Oklahoma towns. They lived in Bartlesville, Freedom, Ardmore, Lindsay, and Durant.
Juanita and Leo were active members of First Baptist Church of Durant, Okla. Juanita was an active service member of several organizations. Her husband, Leo, served in the Army during WWII and she was an active member of American Legion Auxiliary, Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAVA), and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary (VFW.) She was an active member in the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and Woodmen of the World (WOW). She held local, district, state, and national offices in many of these organizations. 
Juanita spent many hours helping her husband on the farm taking care of the cows and hauling hay. Sometimes she would find time to fish at the creek on the farm. She always had roses which she loved dearly. She enjoyed the family vacations in Colorado. Many times, on the way to Grandma’s house she would fix sandwiches in the car for all her kids. She realized one of her dreams of seeing all of her six children attend and graduate from a university.
God blessed Juanita in the last years of her life by allowing her to live in her own home, giving her excellent health, and allowing all of her family to live close by.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo E. Dowling; parents; grandparents; sisters: Norma, Lois, Nelda and her brother, Harold.
She is survived by her brother, Jimmy Pickens and wife Laura of Corpus Christi, Texas; daughter, Sherell A. Mattingly and husband Alan, Sherman, Texas; sons, John W. Dowling and wife Jane Durant, Okla.; Jerry L. Dowling Durant, Okla.; Roy D. Dowling Durant, Okla.; Charles L. Dowling and Peggy Hixson, Denison, Texas; Jim D. Dowling and wife Randa, Calera, Okla.; grandchildren, Mark Mattingly, Wichita, Kan., Karen Dowty, Houston, Texas, Susan Mueller, Golden, Colo., Cole Craige, Bokchito, Okla., Luke Craige, Blue, Okla., Tiffany Proctor, Caddo, Okla., Brooke Harless, Durant, Okla., Tammy Martin, Durant, Okla., Brooks Dowling, Durant, Okla., Britani Dowling, Durant, Okla., Spencer Dowling, Frisco, Texas, Kaitlyn Timpanaro, Denison, Texas, Torri Johnston, Mead, Okla., Alyssa Burnett, Mead, Okla. and 29 great-grandchildren.
Juanita was a devoted wife, loving mother, sweet mema, and kind great-grandmother to all of her family and will be dearly missed by all.
Serving as pallbearers will be: James Thrasher, James Young, Brooks Dowling, Spencer Dowling, Logan Johnston, and Haven Nesbitt.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be all the grandsons and great-grandsons.
Services for Juanita will be at Calvary Baptist Church in Durant, Okla. Officiating will be Bro. Darel Bunch. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7 at Brown’s Funeral Home in Durant, Okla. Services are under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service of Durant.
