Mabel Ruth Dowell passed away peacefully of natural causes on November 22, 2025, at an assisted living facility in Tacoma, Washington, where she had resided for about four years.

Mabel Ruth reached the age of 100 on October 25, 2025. She was born as Mabel Ruth Turner on October 25, 1925, to parents Leonard Turner and Norma (Green) Turner, in Marceline, Missouri. The Turner family relocated numerous times during the Great Depression, finally settling in Fort Madison, Iowa.

She married Douglas Dowell (Sr.) of Washington, Iowa, in 1945 while he was serving with the Army Air Force after deployment in World War II. She was an Air Force spouse for about 20 years, living in many different locations throughout the U.S.

Mabel Ruth volunteered at various hospitals and worked as a telephone operator, mainly in the Southern California area, for many years. In 1995, she relocated from El Monte, California, to University Place, Washington, which she called home for the rest of her life.

In addition to her parents, Mabel Ruth was predeceased by her sister, Loreen Hirschler, her brother William Turner, and her nephew William Hirschler. She leaves her son, Douglas Dowell (Jr.) and his wife, Barbara Adler, of Merrimack, New Hampshire; her grandson, Evan Dowell and his wife, Rachel Dowell, and her great-grandchildren, Scarlett Dowell and Wesley Dowell, all of North Smithfield, Rhode Island.

She also leaves her nephew Thomas Hirschler and his wife, Ruth Hirschler, and their children and grandchildren; her nephew Edwin Hirschler and his wife and children; her nieces and nephews Deidre, Craig, Pamela, and Scott Turner, and their spouses and children. Additionally, she leaves her very close friend, Dora Martinez-Letts, who was so kind to her at the time of her passing.

Mom was laid to rest in the New Tacoma Cemetery, Tacoma, Washington.

No formal services will be conducted.