Merrill Dean Dowers

Wichita - Dowers, Merrill Dean

76, passed away Tuesday, November 21st, 2023. He was born August 23, 1947 to George Wayne Dowers and Lela Fern (Southard) Dowers in Enid, Oklahoma.

Merrill attended Sunnyside grade school, Richland grade and junior high school and graduated from Rose Hill high school in 1965.

He began his career in sales working for G.R. Kinney Company followed by SEARS, Coca Cola, Rainbow Bread Company, Boeing and Xerox.

Merrill enjoyed working on cars, gardening and crafting with wood.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Wayne Dowers, Lela Fern (Southard) Dowers; step-mother, Frances Dowers; brother, Gary Dowers and aunts, uncles.

Merrill is survived by his sister, Connie Harper; significant other, Sandra Simmons; daughters Melanie Collins (Mitch), Heather Hall (Larry); grandsons, Larry Hall (Hannah) Lucas Hall; nieces Mandi Foltz (Michael); nephews Ryan Dowers, Troy Dowers, Brandyn Dowers (Heather), Britton Harper (Courtney), Chad Harper, Nathan Harper (Kasey), Adam Harper; and many great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. Merrill is also survived by his cat, Pretty Girl, AKA, Milkshake.

Visitation: Tuesday, November 28th, 2023, at 1:00 pm with funeral service to follow at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, November 28th, 2023 both at Smith Mortuary, Derby 1415 North Rock Road Derby, Kansas 67037. Interment to follow at Friends Cemetery, Rose Hill, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Gideons International, https://www.gideons.org/donate