Willis Henry Dowdy, 87, of Tifton went home to be with his Lord on Monday, June 20, 2022. His funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2022, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Clayton Dowd officiating. A eulogy will be given by Bobby Kirkland. He will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 23, 2022, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Darrell Woods, Donald Woods, Wesley Tawzer, Bruce Hickey, Shane Fountain and Donnie Purvis will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Young at Heart Senior Group at Carpenter Road Church of God and the employees of Pit Stop Barbecue in Tifton.
Born March 23, 1935, in Irwin County, Mr. Dowdy was the son of the late Joe D. Dowdy and Annie Belle Baker Dowdy. He was also preceded in death by four brothers, Mark Dowdy, E. B. Dowdy, Otis Dowdy and Lunie Dowdy and two sisters, Ola Mae Dowdy and Dollie Bernice Dowdy McSwain.
He was always happy, loving and living life to the fullest. Mr. Dowdy loved meeting people, talking with them and making them laugh. He liked to invent things, repair appliances, lawn mowers, fish and take care of his family. Most of all, he loved his Lord; the love of his life, his wife, Carlene, to whom he was married for almost 65 years; his family; and his grandson, Jeremy, who was the light of his life.
Mr. Dowdy was a member of Carpenter Road Church of God; the Young at Heart Senior Group and the Citizens Police Academy Alumni, Retired and he was retired from the City of Tifton and the Georgia Agrirama.
Mr. Dowdy is survived by his wife, Carlene Purvis Dowdy of Tifton; one son, Ricky Dowdy of Tifton; one daughter and son-in-law, Kathy Ann and Freddy Kearse of Morven; one grandson, Jeremy Kearse of Morven; numerous nieces and nephews; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to a favorite charity.