Obituary of John Stewart McDowell

John Stewart McDowell (72) resident of St. Maries passed away on November 7, 2016. He was born on February 3, 1944 and raised by Frank and Mary McDowell. John graduated from high school in Kansas with the class of 1962. Following high school he enlisted into the US Navy. He served for 4 years before he was honorably discharged. He then attended Bartlesville West Linn College in Oklahoma studying writing and the bible. John re-enlisted in the army and retired in 1967 after he fell ill. After retiring from the military John relocated to South Dakota in a work study program. He met Ruth Sherburne while they were both working for Brainard Indian School. He left and enrolled in Bartlesville West Linn College, but the couple corresponded with the distance separating them. John returned to South Dakota and he and Ruth married on July 5, 1974 in Bartlesville, OK. The couple eventually relocated to Iowa and John worked as a freelance writer. He did very well selling true articles to magazines and was successful. John and Ruth loved the mountains and trees in Idaho. They felt it was time to rest, so they bought some property near St. Maries, ID to retire on. John built himself a sailboat and he enjoyed taking it out on the lake. He also enjoyed hiking, writing, reading, and loved watching western movies. John is survived by his wife Ruth at the family home. He is also survived by his brother in-law David Sherburne of Plainfield, IA and sister in-law Dorothy (Gary) Shelley of Absarokee, MT. He is preceded in death by his parents. A visitation will be Saturday November 12, 2016 at 9:00 am. A graveside service is planned for November 12, 2016 at 11:00 am at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries, ID.