Kenneth Eugene “Kenny” Dowe I, 87, of De Soto died June 1, 2024, at his home. Mr. Dowe graduated from Sumner High School in Boonville and attended two years at the University of Missouri in Columbia, majoring in music. He loved all music, his favorite being country and Western. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1960 to 1966; two of those years being in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Kenny met wife, Darlene, in Boonville and later married on May 18, 1966. Upon moving to Jefferson County, he was employed by Chrysler Corp. in Fenton for 37 years and retired in 2002. He held several capacities at Chrysler, his last being a test car driver. He was a big sports fan, his favorite being football. His favorite team was the Dallas Cowboys. He loved nature and was an avid bird watcher and enjoyed caring for his goldfish in his backyard pond. He loved his Budweiser beer. He never met a stranger and was often recognized by his car license plates that read “GREAT-LIFE.” Born March 17, 1937, in Boonville, he was the son of the late Lucinda Ann (Duncan) and William Hurt Dowe Sr.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years: Darlene Blanks (Gray) Dowe.
He is survived by two sons: Kenneth E. “Kenny” (Jessica Leonard) Dowe II of Blue Springs and Karl L. “Squeak” Gray Sr. of Beckley, W.Va.; a daughter: Vanessa D. Dowe of De Soto; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law: Sharon Dowe of Rock Hill, Pamela Dowe of Boonville and Peggy Bingham of St. Peters; and many other family members and friends.
He also was preceded in death by a sister: Blanche (Henry) Davis; three brothers: William “Jack” Dowe, Howard Dowe and Wilbur Dowe; parents-in-law: Ward and Deloris Blanks; a brother-in-law: Donald (Mary Carter Haynes) Blanks; and a sister-in-law: Evelyn (Ernest) Cook.
Visitation is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 7, at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, 220 N. Main, in De Soto. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home.