Our beloved LaQueta Sue Dowdy was taken peacefully by the Lord on Jan. 19, 2019, capping a lifetime of service to her faith, family and community. LaQueta will be remembered for her bright smile, her compassion, her love of family, Jesus Christ, sewing and gardening. While we mourn her death, we rejoice that she is with her Lord and Savior.
LaQueta was born Feb. 11, 1935, in the vicinity of Foss and Burns Flat, to Noah Owen and Susan Irene Phillips (Adkins). LaQueta grew up in Burns Flat, helping her parents with everything there was to do on a family farm. She attended Burns Flat High School and graduated from Hills Business College in Oklahoma City.
LaQueta married Harmon Gordon Dowdy in 1955 and moved to Tulsa. She worked as a secretary for SunRay Operating Company before being let go for being pregnant. After being blessed with a baby girl, LaQueta opened her own cleaning company, Daisy Fresh Cleaning Service. LaQueta became interested in real estate at that time and went to work as an apartment finder and closer for John Hausam Real Estate. LaQueta later obtained her real estate license and opened her own real estate office, where she loved helping people achieve their dreams of owning their own home. When her husband Gordon retired, LaQueta worked as a secretary for a local State Farm Insurance office. LaQueta was a bright and dedicated employee who was loved by her co-workers and clients.
In 2001 Gordon and LaQueta moved to Bakersfield, Calif., to be close to their daughter and grandchildren. LaQueta immediately made a lot of friends through her association with Valley Baptist Church and the Prayer Quilt Ministry. LaQueta loved serving with the ladies from the Quilt Ministry and serving the Lord by bringing joy and comfort to others.
LaQueta’s faith and positive spirit never faltered, even with many health challenges throughout her life. At various times LaQueta battled breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and liposarcoma, never letting her ailments control her life. She received excellent care in the final months of her life and had such a positive impact on those who cared for her.
LaQueta is survived by her husband of 63 1/2 years, Harmon Gordon Dowdy. In addition, she is survived by her daughter DeAnne (Dowdy) Sanders and her son-inlaw Stephen Sanders; her beloved grandchildren Tara Sanders and Rachel Sanders; her nieces Dorecia (Jim) Tepe, Jerrie Sue Pearson, Beverly (Charles) Smith; her grandnieces and grandnephews Robin (Reynolds) Harris, Mindy (Dlugonski) Cunningham (Brian), Jerry Paul Tepe (Amber), David Smith, Amy Griffith (Karl), Elizabeth Smith and several great-grandnieces; and great-grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Noah and Susan Phillips; her sister Olive June (Phillips) Smith; her brother-in-law Jerry Smith; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Iradean and Coy Botchlett; her niece Kristi (Reynolds) Rozell and infant daughter Afton Rozell; and her grandnephew Philip Tepe.
LaQueta was a light in this world and has made heaven a better place with her presence. She is in the embrace of her Lord Jesus Christ and for that we celebrate.
The family would like to thank the loving care provided by Dr. Amit Shah, the Hoffmann Hospice Care Team, David Johnson, Anne McClean and the Paradise Gardens family.
A celebration service will be held Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at Valley Baptist Church, 4800 Fruitvale Avenue, Bakersfield, CA.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” - John 14: 1-2