Christine McDowell, age 91, of Hayesville, died Saturday, April 16, 2016 at her residence. She was a native of Clay County and a resident most of her life. Christine was a homemaker and was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church.

She was the daughter of the late Henry Lewis and Mary Christine Leatherwood Roach and the wife of the late Wayne McDowell, who died April 30, 2000.  She was also preceded in death by two sons, Timothy and Henry McDowell; and a daughter, Louise McCray.

Surviving are four daughters, Mary Jones and husband, Gary of Warne, Donna McCray and husband, Jimmy of Hayesville, Janice Carter and husband, Ricky of Hayesville, and Kathy Ledford and husband, Mike of Warne; two sons, Wayne McDowell Jr. and Paul McDowell, both of Hayesville; two sisters, Mildred Buchanan and Annalee Martin, both of Hayesville; 23 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren, and nine great great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, April 20, 2016 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville with the Revs. Mark Stewart and Dallas Crowder officiating and James McDowell speaking. The interment was in New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were David Jones, Matthew McCray, Michael and Robert Ledford, and Christopher and James McDowell. Honorary pallbearers were Tyler and Adam Moss, Allen Holmes, and Rusty Jones.

The family received friends from 12-1:45 Wednesday afternoon at the Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville prior to the services.

The family requests memorials be made in memory of Christine McDowell to the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Debbie L. Mills, 574 Carter Cove Road, Hayesville, NC  28904.

Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville in charge of all arrangements.