Rheta McDowell

Rheta Pearl McDowell, 83, of Trimble, MO passed away April 18, 2023.

She was born to Kenneth and Hazel (Bratcher) Clements at home in Walnut Ridge, AR on December 15, 1939. The family moved to Plattsburg, MO in 1953. Rheta graduated from Plattsburg High School in 1956 and from Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, MO in 1958. She taught 5th and 6th grades for 2 years in the North Kansas City School District. 

In 1960, she married the love of her life, Wesley McDowell, living in the Kansas City area before moving to Trimble in 1962. In 2008, she and Wesley celebrated their 48th anniversary 2 months before brain cancer took his life. 

Rheta was an active member of Trimble Baptist Church, where she was Treasurer and led Music/Choir for more years than we can remember. She was also Treasurer for the Heartland Baptist Association for many years, as well as involved in music with the Association. Sunday mornings started when she sat down at the piano to practice the songs for church. We didn’t necessarily appreciate this alarm system, but it was effective. Love of music was a big part of her life as she and Wesley frequented gospel sings, returning to the same ones year after year, making friends wherever they went, even arriving at the campground a week or two early to join the other regular attenders in meals, conversation, and lots of laughter. She also wrote the weekly Trimble Talk column for the Plattsburg Leader, for which she collected all the local news (gossip) for many years, and which gave her the chance to engage in one of her favorite things: talking to people. It was her privilege to talk to many people each week and hear all about vacations, family visits, accomplishments, and any other items a small town might consider newsworthy.

She loved people and they loved her back. Wherever she went, people were drawn to her, even in her last days when she wasn’t talking much. She took a sincere and active interest in people she encountered in all kinds of places, found out names and stories, and remembered them. But she loved kids the most. Her grandkids and great grandkids were her greatest joy. It was very hard for her when she could no longer carry them or watch them, but she cherished every visit, and they adored her, as did countless other kids through the years, most of whom called her Nana or Aunt Rheta. She loved them all. 

The relationship that was most important to her was the one with her Savior, Jesus. It colored everything she did and we believe she kept a running conversation with Him, praying for her kids and grandkids, friends, other loved ones. If you knew her, she prayed for you.

Rheta is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister, Lorna Clements, and grandson, Tyler McDowell. 

She is survived by her three children: Curtis of Kansas City, Carl (Christine) of Independence, and Colleen (Doug) Magee of Kansas City; 5 grandchildren: Alex (Courtney), Jessica (Matt), Katelyn (Jimmy), Aaron and Alise, and 1 step grandson, Ben; 9 great-grandchildren: Hannah, Lainey, Curtis, Wesley, Gracelynn, Joseph, Jericho, Micah, and Jocelynn (due in August); step great-grandchildren JJ and Tristen; brother Keith (Sharon) Clements of Plattsburg; sister Nyla Clements of Lawson; nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. 

Visitation: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, April 21st at the Grace Trimble Baptist Church 112 East Maple Street Trimble, MO 64492

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 22nd at the Grace Trimble Baptist Church 112 East Maple Street Trimble, MO 64492

Burial: Reed Cemetery, Trimble, MO 

Donations may be made to Heartland Baptist Association for Missions. 

 Arrangements by Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower.