Nellie Dowell Obituary

BLOUNTVILLE - Nellie Grace Dowell, age 83 of Blountville, Tennessee passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Bristol, Tennessee. She was born on October 4, 1939, in Scott County, Virginia to the late Hugh and Geneva Barker Smith. Grace was a graduate of Hilton Highschool School, class of 1955 and enjoyed playing basketball with her classmates. She was a member of Gardener's Memorial Primitive Baptist Church. Along with her parents, Grace is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Dowell; two sons, Jeff Dowell, and Billy Dowell; a sister, Margie Baker; and a brother, Ralph Smith.

Grace is survived by her son, Bobby Dowell; her daughter, Connie Penley (Mike); two special grandsons, Tyler Penley and William Dowell; her daughter-in-law, Norma Dowell; her brother, Frank Smith (Hanah) as well as several nieces and nephews left behind to cherish her memory.

Funeral services for Grace Dowell will be conducted on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 1:00 P.M. at the Gardener's Memorial Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Tommy Osborne officiating. Burial will follow in the Booher's Chapel Cemetery with Mike Penley, William Dowell, Tyler Penley, Gary Baker, John Hugh Smith, Dennis Byrd, Terry Dowell and Frank Smith serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Hiram Gardener, Leonard Roller and Dewey Lane.

The Dowell family will receive friends at the church after 11:00 A.M. on Friday until the hour of service at 1:00 P.M. Friends may also call at the home of Connie to pay their respects to Grace.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.oakley-cook.com. Oakley-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory, 2223 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN 37620 (423-764-7123) is honored to serve the Dowell family during this difficult time.