Mary Evelyn Martin Dowell
TYLER — Mary Evelyn Martin Dowell passed away on March 1, 2020 in Tyler, Texas. “Emmy”, as she was known by many friends, took her harp and went to heaven and is now singing and playing in the Lords choir with all the other angels.
Mary Evelyn was born to Kenneth and Ruth Graham Martin in Burkburnett, Texas on October 22, 1924. Ruth later married Dan Lester and along with Mary Evelyn moved to Jefferson, Texas. After graduating from Jefferson high school she attended Stevens college in Missouri for a year and then enrolled at Centenary College where she was a charter member of the famous Centenary College choir. Always deeply involved in music, Mary Evelyn performed in USO/Army shows, veteran’s hospital shows and at various Army camps. She attended the Chicago Conservatory of music where she studied voice and ballet, graduating in 1948.
She married Mike Womack and had a daughter, Julie Evelyn. After a divorce and moving to Dallas, Mary Evelyn married Greer Dowell and had a son, Dan Greer. After Judge Dowell’s death, she moved to Emerald Bay in Bullard, Texas. Mary Evelyn was then married to Harvey Martin until his death in 2000. She moved to Prestige Estates in 2018 until her death.
Music was number one in her life and she had an exciting career. The places she sang and the many wonderful musicians she met, made for many interesting stories . As she performed all around the country, she always came back to East Texas because of her love for Jefferson. She is well known as the first “Diamond Bessie”in the “Diamond Bessie Murder Trial” play that is still being performed in Jefferson during that town’s Annual Pilgrimage held now for 65 years. She not only starred in her role for 16 years but also had done the research for the writing of the play. There is a saying “most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us“. That could not be said of Mary Evelyn. Both her music and love, she shared with everyone.
Judge Greer Dowell, Harvey Martin, her son Dan Greer Dowell, and her daughter Julie Evelyn Dowell proceeded Mary Evelyn in death. Her daughter-in-law Sheree Dowell and granddaughter Kelli Dowell survive her.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Choice Hospice of Tyler, Texas would be welcome. A memorial service will be held in Jefferson at a later date.
Mary Evelyn was born to Kenneth and Ruth Graham Martin in Burkburnett, Texas on October 22, 1924. Ruth later married Dan Lester and along with Mary Evelyn moved to Jefferson, Texas. After graduating from Jefferson high school she attended Stevens college in Missouri for a year and then enrolled at Centenary College where she was a charter member of the famous Centenary College choir. Always deeply involved in music, Mary Evelyn performed in USO/Army shows, veteran’s hospital shows and at various Army camps. She attended the Chicago Conservatory of music where she studied voice and ballet, graduating in 1948.
She married Mike Womack and had a daughter, Julie Evelyn. After a divorce and moving to Dallas, Mary Evelyn married Greer Dowell and had a son, Dan Greer. After Judge Dowell’s death, she moved to Emerald Bay in Bullard, Texas. Mary Evelyn was then married to Harvey Martin until his death in 2000. She moved to Prestige Estates in 2018 until her death.
Music was number one in her life and she had an exciting career. The places she sang and the many wonderful musicians she met, made for many interesting stories . As she performed all around the country, she always came back to East Texas because of her love for Jefferson. She is well known as the first “Diamond Bessie”in the “Diamond Bessie Murder Trial” play that is still being performed in Jefferson during that town’s Annual Pilgrimage held now for 65 years. She not only starred in her role for 16 years but also had done the research for the writing of the play. There is a saying “most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us“. That could not be said of Mary Evelyn. Both her music and love, she shared with everyone.
Judge Greer Dowell, Harvey Martin, her son Dan Greer Dowell, and her daughter Julie Evelyn Dowell proceeded Mary Evelyn in death. Her daughter-in-law Sheree Dowell and granddaughter Kelli Dowell survive her.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Choice Hospice of Tyler, Texas would be welcome. A memorial service will be held in Jefferson at a later date.
