Deborah McDowell

She bravely battled a degenerative disease and spent her last years seeking medical help while living with her children in Michigan, Wisconsin and in the end, with her eldest in Washington state.

She is survived by all of her siblings, Carole (Christie), Randy (Crew), and Ramona (Scholtes); her loving husband of 49 years, Stewart (Doug) McDowell; her children Ramona (Wijayratne), Ian (McDowell) and Audrey (Carpenter); and grandchildren. Deborah was born in Alabama in 1953, the second child of solid rocket propellent engineer Billy Crew and his wife, contract manager Audrey Wood Crew.

She spent much of her youth in Redlands, California, with her family. She graduated in 1975 with a Master’s degree in organic chemistry from the University of California at Riverside. Deb and Doug met in Riverside and were married in 1976.

In 1978, Doug accepted a position as a professor of geology at Michigan Technological University and they moved to a small farm outside Calumet, so Debby could pursue horses and riding. Taken under the wing of two local farming families, Ernie and Vieno Hendrickson, and Harold and Terry Tikkanen, Deb and Doug transformed their own farm to grow vegetables, flowers and hay, and built an arena where Deb could practice her dressage.

Deb also earned an R.N. degree, but found she loved being the gardens, woods and fields of her farm most of all.

A life-long Christian, Deb was known to be generous with those around her, no matter their religious or political position, and took many under her wing of care, becoming “mom” to more than her own children. She continually practiced the love of Christ that she shared with those around her. She was involved in several Christian communities throughout her life including Peninsula Christian Church in Dollar Bay as a founding member (when led by pastor Gordon Sorenson), Faith Lutheran Church in Laurium, Life Outreach in Houghton as a longtime member, advisor and IT support, and eventually participated in Bethany Community Church with her daughter’s family in Washington State. 

Full of endless curiosity, she wanted to use her mind well to understand God’s creation, human understanding and ingenuity; for this reason, she was never afraid to ask questions in pursuit of knowledge and truth.

Her second lifelong passion was music and art. Deb was a remarkable water-color artist and crafter; a true Jane-of-all trades who succeeded in many art disciplines. She was a third-generation singer with Southern heritage, trained classically, but who returned to her roots and came to love folk music and later upon marrying her husband, folkdance. She loved to sing the hymns of her youth and worship the Lord through praise songs. She was a long-time international folk dancer after being introduced to that unique music by Doug.

She passed that love along by introducing many new people to the joy of Balkan folk dancing. She played in and for various music groups and bands, including; the Thimbleberry Orchestra, decades of church worship services, the Copper Country Ethnic Folk Dancers, Red Metal radio shows at the Calumet Theater, for various local French-Canadian dances with Dave Bizotte, local recorder and singing groups, living room jams, and much more. She particularly loved playing Balkan dance music with Oren Tikkanen for the local folk dancers.

When her illness took away her voice, she began to play mandolin. When it took away her finger strength, she took up recorder, when it took her breath, she bought a small accordion; despite quick physical deterioration, she always intended to make music until her end. A true reflection of her loving Savior, Jesus, and despite her inexplicably difficult, medical saga, Deb was unselfish and gracious with everyone until her very final breath.

In the Bible, in Luke 10:27-28, Jesus responded to a question about what is the greatest commandment.

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'[”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

And so, Debby did.

A memorial service will be held in July.