Irene Black McDowell, 83, of Etowah, died Saturday, October 23, 2010 at Woods Memorial Hospital.

A daughter of the late Gertie Black, she was a native and a life-long resident of McMinn County.

She was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her mother, listed above; her husband, Frank Edward; her son, Larry Gibson; three brothers, Robert and Homer Black and George Lee Pass; and five sisters, Annie Mitchell Morris, Berda Patrick, Cora Bell Tallent, Imogene Hooper and Mary Lee Pass.

Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Diane and Bill White of Etowah, TN, Pam and Gary Higgins of Cleveland, TN and Linda and Mickey McInturff of Etowah, TN; one son and daughter-in-law, Pat and Pam McDowell of Tampa, FL; fifteen grandchildren; twenty six great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; one sister, Edna Mae Gregg of Cleveland, TN; one brother and sister-in-law, Clarence and Ann Black of Cleveland, TN; special friend, Charlotte Rule of Etowah, TN and several special nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 26, 2010 in the South Chapel with Layspeaker Roy Campbell and Rev. Gary Higgins officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday prior to the service. Family and friends will assemble at Lee Cemetery in McDonald, TN at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27th for the committal service. Adam Gibson, Larry Gibson Jr., Hunter Petterson, Zack McInturff, Ray Payne, Dakota Ashba and David McInturff will serve as pallbearers. Tom Aderhold, Tommy Hooper, Rex Black, Ivan Snyder, Joe Coleman, Tommy Maney, Buddy Mannery and Doug Rule will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Bordwine Funeral Home of Etowah in charge of arrangements.