Nellie Dowdy

Nellie M. Dowdy, 80, died suddenly Monday, May 16, 2016, at her residence in Hot Springs County.

Born August 3, 1935, in Upton, Wyo., she was the daughter of Stuart and Fern (Brennaman) Mellor. In 1955, she married Jim Dowdy in Upton, Wyo., where they ranched and raised their family. They purchased a feedlot in Thermopolis in 1981 and moved permanently to Thermopolis in the mid 1980s.

She was a member of Community Federated Church. A wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was self-employed as a bookkeeper. Nellie acquired an Associate Degree from CWC in Riverton in 1989. A woman unafraid to tackle any job, she worked for School District #1, Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital and Red Rock Family Practice. She also tutored children.

Her passion for music found her plucking her string bass playing with the Prairie Grass Band, Simple Gifts Band at church and Friday night jams. She also played several instruments, the accordion being her favorite. Above all, she valued her family.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; sons, Dan of Upton and Nick (Jo) of Thermopolis; daughters, Twitter (Clint) Westover of Moorcroft, Wyo., and Debbie (Tom) Christensen of Thermopolis; brother, Dick Mellor of Spokane, Wash .; sister, Jacqueline Wicker of Thermopolis; ten grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren.

On Saturday, May 28 at 1 p.m., a memorial and remembrance service will be held at the fairgrounds for all her friends and family with Pastor Chuck Cooper assisting.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Nellie's name to a charity of choice. Mortimore Funeral Home assisted the family. Online memories may be expressed at http://www.mortfh.com.