Carla Ann McDowell

Carla Ann Lewis McDowell, 89, died peacefully at Little Flower Nursing Facility in Mint Hill, NC on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023. Carla grew up in Farmington, MO where her father, Lee Lewis, a pharmacist, operated an old-fashioned drugstore with a soda fountain. This was a great place to hang out with high school friends, of whom Carla had many. Carla married Jay McDowell at Campbell’s Drive-In Wedding Chapel in Yuma, AZ on May 29th, 1953, when she was nineteen. The couple subsequently moved to San Diego, CA where Jay was stationed while serving in the US Navy. In 1956, after completing military duty, Jay and Carla moved to Columbia, MO where Jay attended and graduated The University of Missouri. Carla worked for the University. Their daughter, Lynn McDowell was born on May 24, 1959, and their second daughter Lisa McDowell was also born in Columbia, MO on September 14, 1964. That same year the young family moved to Great Bend, KS when Jay began working for Sears. A promotion then took them to Chicago, IL. With each move Carla developed and nurtured valuable friendships which lasted her a lifetime. Carla and Jay hosted many parties where friends and family were always welcome to join in the fun. Carla was famous for the manner in which she could create a feast in a breathtakingly short amount of time with seemingly minimal effort. It was a pleasure for her to see you at her table. When the family moved to Matthews, NC Carla took the opportunity to open her own kitchen store, Carla’s Kitchen Capers, and downtown Matthews would never be the same. It was just Carla’s way of fitting into the local landscape. Carla will always be remembered for her natural charm. Even strangers gravitated to her easy friendliness and warmth. She endeared herself to all of us who knew and loved her. Carla’s family was the heart of her life. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Carla is survived by her younger brother, Mike; her two daughters, Lynn and Lisa; grandchildren, Chris, Dan, Carly and Leah; great-grandchildren, Tucker, Sloan and Hudson; spouses Barry, Kandice and Cassie; countless friends and acquaintances. She was preceded in death by her parents, her older brother, Lee, and her husband, Jay. The McDowell family has given the family of Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home the privilege of caring for her and for them. Services will be held in the funeral home chapel, 4715 Margaret Wallace Road, Matthews, at 2 pm on Friday, December 1, 2023.

Carla Ann McDowell

April 1, 1934 - November 28, 2023