Lowdermilk, Ruthal Mae Avery
Birth: 6-30-1932
Death: 4-10-2025
Comments: Double marker with Winzel Matthew Lowdermilk; m. 7-12-1953; death date not engraved at time of survey
Burial: Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
Notes: Originally recorded in a survey on 5-10-2018 and updated on .
Obituary: Ruthal Mae Avery Lowdermilk, 92, of El Dorado, went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 10, 2025. She was born June 30, 1932 in Prescott, AR to Chester May Avery and Thelma Inez Jones Avery. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Elaine (Lowdermilk) Welch and husband Jim of Bryant; son-in-law, Charlie Brasher of Brandon, MS; five grandchildren: Matthew Welch (Courtney), Daisy Switzer (Brian), Ben Henry Brasher, Daniel Welch (Rachel) and Luke Welch (Ashlyn); three great-grandchildren: Gabrielle Switzer, Jackson Switzer, and Titus Welch; three brothers: William Avery, Wendell Avery and Chester Ray Avery and wife Jean, all of Prescott; and one sister, Carolyn Largent of Texarkana. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband of 66 years, Winzel Lowdermilk, her sister Dorothy Inez Avery Hicks, and her daughter Linda Ruth (Lowdermilk) Brasher. Ruthal loved the Lord, loved her family, and was affectionately called Mammaw by all. She was a longtime member at both Marrable Hill Chapel and at Hickory Grove Chapel. She served across various community and professional organizations, including Delta Kappa Gamma, Retired Teachers Association, and Gideon Auxiliary. Ruthal was an amazing cook, and commonly created large meals with love for family gatherings, mostly without formal recipes. Ruthal attended Blevins High School, where she was valedictorian of her class. She later attended South Arkansas University and earned an Education degree, which prepared her for a career of teaching for more than 40 years. She taught in the elementary grades at numerous schools in and around El Dorado. She impacted many lives through her teaching, and she regularly ran into people around town who remembered having her as a teacher. In retirement, she greatly enjoyed time with family, reading, cooking, and making preserves out of many different fruits. Ruthal enjoyed traveling with her husband, having visited all 50 states plus several countries, and making several special trips with friends at Arkansas Retired Teachers Association. Services were held Monday at Bailey Funeral Home Chapel in El Dorado. Graveside services followed at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Prescott, AR, under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home.

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References to an "earlier record" usually refer to a survey conducted in the 1950's by the Nevada County Extension Homemakers' Clubs, the original of which is on file at the Nevada County Depot and Museum.

Since 1997, Jery and Jeanie McKelvy have conducted a periodic canvas of each cemetery in the county and use additional resources to keep the listings current.