Darlene Carpenter Dowell, 88, went home to be with her Lord on December 22, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. She was born on July 25, 1937, in Anson, Texas to J.O. and Florence (Dutton) Carpenter.
Darlene grew up in the country near Anson, Texas. When she was a junior in high school the family moved to Dimmitt, Texas. In Dimmitt, she began dating her high school sweetheart Bryce Dowell. They graduated from Dimmitt High School and married 3 months later.
She was a was a dedicated wife and mother, grandmother, aunt, friend and volunteer. She was artistic and talented, pursuing many interests and hobbies throughout her life. She was known as the Cookie Lady for the countless batches of Monster Cookies that she made and shared with others. She and Bryce attended First Baptist Church in Dimmitt where she taught 4-year-olds for many years.
Darlene, “Mammaw” to many of her loved ones, is survived by her daughter, Melony Fant and husband, John of Dallas; daughter-in-law, Teri Dowell Ussery of McKinney; grandchildren, Michael Fant and wife, Kristin and children, Bryson, Emily and Madelynn of Frisco, Rebecca Yarborough and husband, Ben and daughters, Elise and Julia of Dallas, Brandon Dowell of McKinney and Brett Dowell and wife, Sarah and children, Lola and Jack of Roanoke; brother-in-law, Leeroy O’Briant of Lubbock; nieces, Tina Mobley and husband, Shannon of Odessa and Tawna O’Briant of Lubbock; and brother-in-law, Royce Dowell of McKinney along with many other loving relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 67 years, Bryce; her parents, J.O. and Florence Carpenter, son, Kris Dowell, and sisters, Kay O’Briant and Claudie Preston.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. The service will also be live streamed at the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/darlene-carpenter-dowell. Interment will be held at Ridgeview Memorial Park following the service.
Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to First Baptist Church of Dimmitt Texas.