Melba Frances Dowell, 87, of Caruthersville, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 4, 2006, at Baptist Hospital East in Memphis, Tenn.

Born Dec. 20, 1918, in Pemiscot County, Mo., she attended Braggadocio, Mo. Schools, and was employed at Wal-Mart. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Church and the American Legion Auxiliary.

On Jan. 2, 1938, in Blytheville, Ark., she married William Moad Dowell.

Survivors include one son, Dennis Dowell, of Caruthersville; two daughters, Patsy Fox and husband, Ronnie and Jeanine Teroy and husband, Jim, all of Caruthersville; two sisters, Mildred Clark, of Caruthersville and Mary Owens, of Long Beach, Calif.; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one daughter, Emily Dodd; one son, Charles Lee Dowell and two brothers, Charles Howard and Billy Ray Clark.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Sacred Heart Church in Caruthersville with Father Randy Tochtrop officiating.

Burial was in the Little Prairie Cemetery at Caruthersville.

Pallbearers were Ryan and Jim Teroy, David Inman, Terry Cunningham, Johnny Harmon and Lonnie Kersey.

H. S. Smith Funeral Home of Caruthersville was in charge of arrangements.