Leonard Junior Dowdy, 85, of Paragould, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. He was born on February 27, 1938, to Leonard and Lola Dowdy.
Junior graduated from Greene County Tech in 1958 and was drafted out of high school to pitch for the Boston Red Sox.
After returning from the minor league, he married "the one he caught" and the love of his life, Carolyn Wallace in 1961.
Junior attended trade school and later retired in 1998 after 31 years as the tool and dye supervisor at L. A. Darling.
Junior was a devoted and loving father and "Poppy." He was active and present in the lives of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was there for everything from horse shows to ball games.
Junior loved all things Razorbacks, Cardinals, and outdoors. He was always ready for a fishing trip or to help with a harvest.
Junior loved life and those in it - he never met a stranger and would go above and beyond for anyone in need. He was baptized at Alexander Baptist Church in a seep ditch at the age of 12. He attended church at Central Baptist in Paragould. There could not have been a more perfect Poppy.
Junior was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Charles Dowdy, Buford Dowdy, Grayson Dowdy; and sister, Irma Dowdy.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Carolyn Dowdy; daughters, Angela Dowdy, Kim (Darrell) Wall; brother, Billy Joe (Elnora) Dowdy; sister, Irene Evans; grandchildren, Amanda (Brandon) Davis, Ryan (Shana) Cupp, Molly (Garrett) Cook; and great-grandchildren, Dixie Rae Davis, Maggie Mae Cupp, Hazel Suzanne Davis, and William Douglas Cupp.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 29, from 1:00 p.m. until service time at Phillips Funeral Home. The funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m. at Phillips Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Linwood Cemetery.
Eddie Dowdy, Trent Dowdy, Marcus Dowdy, Brandon Davis, Ryan Cupp, and Garrett Cook will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include Darrell Wall, Richard Smith, Robert Sparks, Harry Gibson, and Lynden Stallings.