Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1922-10-20
The Passing Of Mrs. Mcdowell.
Frances Scott Cliff.

'''"p wv i'uill VI WV DdoNlIiB VI wv
wife and mother from the home
where she has been the loving
magnet that has drawn the home
circle about her for so many years.
Probably no one factor in the
life of our two islands has
so closely touched so many Of our
citizens since the early pioneer
days of our oldest residents, as
has the McDawcll family who own
ed and operated the steamers ply
ing between Tacoma and Seattle
touching at all points on the east
coasts Of VaShon and Maury is.
lands, thus providing our only
means Of steady transportation
for many years, and the passing Of
any member of the family is of
more than usual interest and re-
gret to all Of the old timers, as
well as to those who have missed
them so much from our docks dur
ing the past few years.
Elizabeth. beloved wife of Mat
thew Mcdowell, was born in Sep
TENDER, 1880, near Glasgow, Scot
land. She was married to Mat
thew Mcdowell in 1870. She died
October -, 1929.
She is survived by her husband,
two sons, one daughter and four
grand children, all of whom deep
~ mourn her loss.
Mrs. Mcdowell possessed a
strong, fine character. which ali
who came in contact with learned
to respect and admire.
In the early days when they
We're builing up the transportation
business here on these waters, life
was a struggle for existence, and
her little family was growing up
around her, but the young mother
cared tenderly for her children
and held always "A strong, helpful
hand ready to assist her husband
IN any emergency.
During more than half a cen
fury she has literally kept "the
home fires burning" and always
a eight in the window" for her
beloved family.
Her belief in the efficiency Of
truth, honesty and loyalty to the
best principles in life was as I'M
swerving as the needle of the com
pass on her husbands ships.
In times of trouble. sorrow or
illness the mother heart was al
ways the comfort and balm for
each one of her family, and, too,
there was always room for the
stranger who needed help or sym
patty.
Generous and sympathetic, with
a deep love that never failed, hers
was the ideal mother nature. that
is not often found in these later,
hurried, busy days,
When the McDowells first came
to the Puget Sound country thy
made a home at Gig Harbor, but
between fifteen and twenty years
ago Mr.. Mcdowell established a
home at Caledonia where his child
rem might make homes of their
own upon his own domain, and
where he could anchor his little
feet of vessels before his own
door, where Mrs. Mcdowell could
watch them come and go at will.
Here it was to be hoped they
might spend the years of their old
age in comfort and happiness with
their children and grandchildren
near them. But two years ago
they saw their son, Captain John,
pass through the valley of the
shadow after long months of Suf-
fering, and when he was taken
from the fold her courage seemed
to break. and she never recovered
her normal strength since then.
Everything that the loving
hearts Of husband and children
could do has been done, but her
work was finished, and it was
time for her to fold her hands in
rest.
Two weeks ago it was deemed
best to place her in the hospital at
Tacoma where she could be under
more constant care Of her physi-
clan, but despite all that medical
science could do she failed rapid
ly until the end.
Here she became impressed yith
the religious devotion of the Cath
Ollie sisters, who had attended 9th
er members of her family at var
ious times and now attended her,
and she was received into the
Catholic church. with the prom
Use that the good of her long