Kay Lynelle McDowell was born to the late Bill and Geneva Rogers on Dec. 12, 1941 in Phoenix, Ariz. She attended school in Phoenix and California.

Kay passed away with her loving family by her side on Friday, May 6, 2016. She was a woman of many talents whose endless creativity astonished us all. She had an infectious laugh and a smile that lit up a room. We will never forget all that she was and all that she is to us. As much as we wanted Kay to stay, God said it was time for her to come home. Kay was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, teacher, nurse, hiker, camper, cook, hostess, protector, enforcer, world traveler, and a living legend.

Kay is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Brad McDowell, and her brother Keith Rogers. She was a loving mother to her biological children Daniel and wife Elizabeth McDowell, Deborah and husband Ray Rehn, and David McDowell. She lovingly brought into her heart and home 20 adopted children: Dana Scott, Darren and wife Melissa McDowell, Kevin and wife Alison Gaumond, Jason and wife Cindy McDowell, Danielle and husband Tom Crabb, Stanley and wife Shilpa McDowell, Victoria and husband Robert Hernaiz, Kenneth and wife Anna McDowell, Melissa and husband Tony Harper, Theresa and husband Rodney Schoener, Mara and husband Christopher Fleck, Angela, Alexander, Amanda, Adam, Arika, Annessa, Austin, Andrew, and Aaron McDowell. Her grandchildren: Sarah Pereira, Jonathon McDowell, Rachael McDowell, Anne-Marie Bush, Amber-Rei Burgess, Alisa-Kay Rehn, Brain-Adam Micheal Rehn aka Bammer, Taylor and Clayton Scott, William, Walter and Woodrow McDowell, Ivan Gaumond, Adriana McDowell, Julie, Dylan and Gavin Schoener, Ireland, Elijah and Liberty Fleck, Logan and Aria Gonzales-McDowell, Grayson McDowell, Stanley Jr. and Karishma McDowell, Kimberly Hilderbrand, Alicia and Michelle Hernaiz, Cassandra Crabb, stepson Nathaniel Robeson. Her great-grandchildren: Amelia and Caleb Pereira, Clayton, Gavin and Kayla Bush, and Emma Grace Burgess.