Marilyn Parkhurst Dowell

Marilyn Parkhurst Dowell peacefully passed away Saturday, February 12, 2022 in Lawrence, KS.  She was born in Kansas City, MO on January 6, 1927 to Lucia and Cecil Parkhurst and attended Southwest High School in KC, MO, Monticello Girls School in IL and finished her education at Marymount College in Salina, KS.   She married James C. Dowell, MD on June 22, 1949 and lived in Chicago, Kansas City, Lawrence and Salina respectively.  She was a member of Christ Cathedral Church, PEO Women’s organization and taught art in the Salina Public School System, and was one of the founding members of the Salina Art Center.

Marilyn and Jim retired to Litchfield Park, AZ in 1987 and spent many years enjoying the Arizona sunshine.  She was a docent at the Heard Museum in Phoenix and she and Jim enjoyed traveling at home and abroad, before returning to Lawrence in 2005.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her daughter Donna Foley, James Foley, James Foley III and Connor Foley, and her husband James.  She is survived by her daughter Diane Dowell Carter of Denver, CO, her sons James C. Dowell of Piinetop, AZ and John R. Dowell of Scottsdale, AZ., four grandsons and four great granddaughters.

A Memorial Service is planned for a later date.  Memorials may be sent to the Salina Art Center, 242 S. Santa Fe, Salina, KS 67401 or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

2 Condolences

  1. Mandy Brennan on March 2, 2022 at 4:41 pm

    I just moved to Oklahoma and was planning to visit Lawrence. So sad to hear this great woman has passed away. I will miss her and hope she’s hugging on her loved ones who went to heaven before her. I still have a painting she made for me, a present for my college graduation! I’d love to attend services if you all share. Blessings to you all.



  2. John Sullivan on March 4, 2022 at 10:58 am

    Marilyn was such a nice woman. I had the privilege to wait on her as a customer in Colorado Springs. She and her husband exuded class and dignity. The world was a better place with her in it. My heartfelt condolences to her family.



Leave a Condolence