Elsie Coleen Peterson McDowell was born November 23, 1940 in Stroud, Oklahoma to Albert Swifton (Steve) Peterson and Irma Ellen Peterson. She passed away July 23, 2019 at the age of 78 years and 8 months in Sayre, OK.
 

Growing up for Elsie was filled with lots of joy and heartache. Her dad, known to the area ranchers as Steve, provided veterinarian care to anyone in need of help and she many times rode along with her dad to “help”. Many times she was scolded by her dad because she just couldn’t seem to keep her opinion and advice to herself. For all of you that knew Elsie you understand that as she always had just the right advice for whatever ailment or problem you had, whether you wanted it or not. She and her schoolmates got into their share of trouble as well. She always remembered getting caught trying smoking and that is what she got from her dad, when he used a switch on her.
 

Elsie graduated high school in Kendrick Oklahoma in 1958 and later married Jessie Andrew McDowell on April 14, 1959. Andy and Elsie owned and operated a cafe in Erick coincidentally on the very property of their home now in Erick. Elsie and Andy raised 4 children, Steven McDowell and Joyce (McDowell) Sutton, Doris (McDowell) Barnes of Sayre and Linda Joyce (McDowell) Moore. Her parents and sister, Eva died early in Elsie’s life leaving her to be the caregiver we all knew. She has worked in nursing homes, hospitals and was a home health aide taking care of patients too numerous to count. She and Wilma Plummer worked for a time in Oklahoma City at Deaconess Hospital putting in 40 hours in from Friday night to Monday. I think that was her proudest job as a nurse’s aide. Elsie had the opportunity to care for all kinds of health issues. She also worked at the Sayre Hospital many years but running the feed store in Erick for Joyce and Todd was a passion of hers for 10 years. She never met a stranger and made many friends at the store. Elsie was well known to most of the area medical professionals and some are still caring for others and cared for her in her recent stay at Hensley’s Nursing Home.

She is preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers: Jack Peterson, Hubert Peterson, Albert Peterson; 2 sisters: Eva Thompson and Pauline Gee.

She is survived by her husband: Andy McDowell of the home; 3 daughters: Linda McDowell Moore of Littlefield Tx., Doris McDowell Barnes and husband Wayne of Sayre, OK, Joyce McDowell Sutton and husband Todd of Erick, OK; 1 son: Steven McDowell and Jennifer of Erick, OK, 6 grandchildren: Shayla Hogg and husband Dustin, Nic McDowell and Jess, Lacie Waldron and husband Travis, Lorene Barnes, Gary Moore and Linda Moore as well as 3 great granddaughters: Aubrey, Brooklyn and Kinley Waldron, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM, Friday, July 26, 2019 at Texola First Baptist Church with Pastor Charlie Floyd officiating.

Interment will follow at Erick Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Wednesday, July 24, 2019 and from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Thursday, July 25, 2019 at Fatheree-Albert Funeral Home, Erick, OK.

Online guestbook and condolences are available at www.whineryfs.com