Patricia Jo (Elcan) Dowden was born on April 11, 1941 in Conway, Arkansas to Joe and Christine (McKissack) Elcan. She departed this life, surrounded by her family, on January 8, 2022 in Heavener, Oklahoma at the age of 80 years.
She is survived by:
Her husband of 59 years:
Hal Dowden of the home
Her daughter:
Christy Bovos (husband Marc) of Poteau, Oklahoma
Her son:
David Dowden (wife Annmarie) of Niceville, Florida
Her grandchildren:
Matt Bovos (Mandy) of Edmond, Oklahoma
Hallie Bovos of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Grace Dowden and Madeline (Maddy) Dowden of Niceville, Florida
Two great-grandchildren:
Harper Bovos and Parker Bovos
Her brother:
Chris Elcan (wife Becky) of Innsbrook, Missouri
Many nieces, nephews, and a host of friends
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Christine Elcan; her brother, Frank Elcan and his wife, Angie.
Pat graduated from Waldo High School in Waldo, Arkansas in 1959. She was selected to be the Arkansas Dairy Princess in 1959 and represented Arkansas in the national pageant in Scottsdale, Arizona. She attended the University of Arkansas for three years and was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. She and Hal were married on June 17, 1962 and she then attended the Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas, while Hal attended mortuary school in Dallas, Texas. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Texas Women’s University in 1963. She earned her Master’s Degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1989 attending Northeastern at the same time that her son, David Dowden attended.
Her work life included keeping the books at the Dowden Funeral Home in Heavener, being manager of the Heavener Chamber of Commerce for several years, working at Carl Albert State College as a counselor, Director of Federal Programs and Director of Special Events for the college. She was in charge of the Presidents’ Lecture Series and led the events hosting Presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and George Bush, Sr. She retired from Carl Albert State College in 1998. She and Hal were owners of the Dowden Funeral Home in Heavener for many years.
Pat and Hal moved to Heavener, Oklahoma in 1963. Pat became involved in community activities, serving on various committees, leading a Brownie Scout Troop, a Cub Scout Troop, establishing the Heavener Junior Miss pageant and serving on the Heavener Library Board. She was a member of the PEO Sorority in Poteau.
Pat was a lifetime member of the Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, and served at FaithBridge United Methodist Church in Heavener for more than 58 years.
Pat was a woman of exceptional beauty, inside and out, and was a loving wife, mother and friend to many and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 13, 2022 at Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Ricky Huggins officiating. Interment will follow in Heavener Memorial Park under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener, Oklahoma.
Pallbearers will be: John Chitwood, Ray Luman, Kenny Pickle, Bill Lancaster, Jin Han, and Mike Hahn.
Pat will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday; and 9:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., Wednesday; and 9:00 a.m. until 1 p.m., Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in honor of Pat to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois, 60601.
The family will visit with friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday at the funeral home.
To sign Pat’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.