Rev. Thomas Robert Dowdell died Nov. 6 in Tulsa after a long illness. He was 75.
Father Dowdell was born in Roswell, N.M., on April 20, 1945, to Thomas Philip and Jean (Pickett) Dowdell. He was baptized at Saint Peter Catholic Church in Roswell on May 6, 1945. The family moved to Tulsa where they attended Christ the King Catholic Church.
He attended Saint Francis de Sales Minor Seminary in Oklahoma City and Conception Abbey and College Seminary in Conception, Mo.
After completing college seminary, Father Dowdell was sent to Assumption Seminary in San Antonio in 1967 to begin his graduate theological formation. On May 21, 1971, he was ordained to the priesthood in the then Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa at Christ the King Catholic Church in Tulsa by Bishop Victor Reed. Soon after his ordination, the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa was divided into two parts, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. Father Dowdell became incardinated in the new Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
He served at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Ada; Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Blackwell; Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Enid and its mission of Saint Michael Catholic Church in Goltry; Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Oklahoma City; Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Perry and its mission of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Billings; Saint Mary Catholic Church in Ardmore; Christ the King Catholic Church in Oklahoma City; Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Oklahoma City; and Saint James the Greater Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. He retired in 2018.
Father Dowdell served as a regional vicar and on the Presbyteral Council for two terms, one of them as chairman.
In April 2018, Father Dowdell retired to Saint Ann Assisted Living Center in Oklahoma City. In June, Father Dowdell transferred to University Village in Tulsa.
He is survived by his siblings, Jean (Arnold) Junger, Richard (Noreen) Dowdell and Judge John (Rochelle) Dowdell, and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 12 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Tulsa with Archbishop Coakley presiding and San Antonio Auxiliary Bishop Michael Boulette as homilist. Interment is at Calvary Cemetery in Tulsa.
Memorials may be made to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City as well as Marquette, Bishop Kelley or San Miguel Catholic schools of Tulsa.