Biography: Bonnie S. McDowell (Toots), age 101, of Little Rock, died on Thursday, May 29, 2014 with her family by her side. She was born December 14, 1912 in Charleston, AR to the late Leo Henry and Ora Lennie McBee Sommer. She is preceded in death by two brothers, Anton and Roy Sommer, husband, Lee Eugene McDowell (Hon), niece, Carolyn Sue Kent, and nephew, William ?Bill? Sommer. Bonnie married Lee Eugene McDowell (Hon) in 1936 in Fort Smith, AR. They were married for 70 years and resided in Little Rock. For the past 7 years Bonnie resided at Presbyterian Village, where she has made many friends. She was an active member of various clubs and organizations including, Sigma Chi ETA Chapter, Brady Extension Women?s Club, AARP Chapter #34 and Adult Center Bridge. She was an avid bridge, canasta, poker, bingo and domino player. She also enjoyed cooking, canning, coupon clipping, crocheting, jewelry making, needle point and sewing. She and her husband loved camping, mall walking and traveling. She is survived by 3 nieces, 2 nephews, 14 great-nieces and nephews, and 26 great-great-nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham St, Little Rock, AR on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral service will be at Ruebel Funeral Home on Thursday, June 5 at 10 a.m. followed by burial at Arkansas State Veteran?s Cemetery, 1501 W. Maryland Ave, North Little Rock, AR. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.
Bonnie taught me to sew. We had such fun! And she made me learn to sew correctly--I probably ripped out several seams before I got it right. I can remember her going shopping with one of her nieces and Bonnie telling me she made paper patterns in the dressing room, then they bought material and she made new clothes. She was always so patient and so much fun! Always made me feel special!
Loved hearing her and Gene talk back and forth (Toots and Hon) Thanks for the memories!