Shirley A. McDowell

Port Allegany — Shirley A. McDowell, 88, of Port Allegany passed away Monday (November 25, 2024) at Sweden Valley Manor, following a brief illness.

She was born April 16, 1936, in Port Allegany, a daughter of Clifford and Neva McNeil Grimes. She was married to Llewellyn “Pick” McDowell, who died in 1991.

Mrs. McDowell attended Port Allegany schools. She was a member of the Class of 1954.

Throughout her life she was employed at several area manufacturing facilities, including Viko Furniture in Eldred, Jaguar Manufacturing in Smethport, and Ball Foster (Ardagh) Glass in Port Allegany, retiring in 1997 after 12 years of service. She was a skilled seamstress, sewing doll clothes for the Cameo Doll Company when it operated in Port Allegany. She operated her own fabric store for a time. She was also employed by the Market Basket, Kantar’s Department Store, and Georgie’s Fabric Center of Port Allegany.

She was a member of Port Allegany United Methodist Church; Port Allegany Fire Department Auxiliary, Royal Neighbors of America, and S.W. Smith Friends of the Library. She was a past president of the Port Allegany Alumni and was instrumental in planning the group’s annual reunions.

She enjoyed sewing, reading, trips to the casino, volunteering at auxiliary events and playing Bingo with friends at the Roulette firehall each week.

She is survived by a son, Roger (Teri) McDowell, and a daughter, Ellen (Tom) Buchenauer, all of Port Allegany; a son-in-law, James Rankin Jr. of Port Allegany; seven grandchildren, Justin (Krista) McDowell, Taylor McDowell, Cody (Desiree) Buchenauer, Erin (Tom) Nasto, Rebecca (Daniel) Burr, Brianne (Marc) Riblet, and Travis (Stephanie) Rankin; 10 great-grandchildren, Ashton, Declan, Elenah, Maura, Evelyn, Ivy, Hailee, Jackson, Lyndee and McKenna; one sister, Mary Lou Higley, and one brother, Edward Grimes, both of Port Allegany; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan D. Rankin; a great-grandson, Wyatt Rankin; a brother, Gerry Grimes; and a sister, Norma DeHaven.

Visitation will be held on Friday (November 29, 2024) from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes Inc., 105 Main Street, Port Allegany, where funeral services will begin at 12:00 noon, with the Rev. James Cannistraci, pastor of the Port Allegany Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Sartwell Creek Cemetery, Roulette.

Memorials may be made to S.W. Smith Memorial Library, Port Allegany, PA; or the St. Jude Society. Online condolences may be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are under direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes Inc., Port Allegany.