Evelyn Hacker Dowell, 85, of Hereford, Texas passed away on Friday, September 20, 2019 in Amarillo. Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2019 at 1:00PM in the First Presbyterian Church of Hereford with Pastor Joan E. Gaines officiating. Burial will follow in West Park Cemetery under the care of Mendez & Mullins Family Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 21, 2019 from 4:00PM – 6:00PM at the funeral home.

Evelyn Dowell was born on July 13, 1934 in the Frio Community outside of Hereford, Texas to Haskell Faye Benson and Verdie May (Johnson) Benson, who were original charters of the Nazarene Church on Jackson Street. Evelyn has been in the community since 1934, minus her years in college. Evelyn worked as an organist and piano teacher for over 60 years. She played the organ at the First Christian Church, Methodist Church, and Presbyterian Church in Hereford, Texas.

Evelyn married Joe Hacker on August 16, 1953 in the First Baptist Church, she remarried on November 27, 1998 in the First Methodist Church to Bartley Dowell. Evelyn was involved in several organizations such as La Madre Mia, Texas Festival of Piano Teachers, National Guild of Piano Teachers, Hereford Music Study Club, Hereford Study Club, the Red Hat Club and the Hereford Senior Citizens. Evelyn was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hereford. She was named "Mother of the Year" in 2002 by KPAN.

Those left to cherish her memories are her children Shelley Gordon Hacker, married to Shawn Mumbach Hacker, Sabra Joette Hacker, Sonya Marla Hacker Bagwell, married to Larry Bagwell, Stefan Shane Hacker, married to Kim Williams Hacker, Santry Scott Hacker, married to Jill Fredrickson Hacker; fourteen grandchildren Amber Nicole Hacker Hood, married to Wesley Hood, Elizabeth Leigh Whisner Wleczyk, married to Taylor Wleczyk, Brandon B. Bagwell, April Lindsey Hacker, Joseph Garrett Hacker, married to Jessen Mayo Hacker, Jenna Marie Hacker, Sophie Claire Hacker, Samuel Gordon Hacker, Abby Ann Hacker, Kalley Kamille Hacker, Hank Houston Hacker, Kaden Santry Hacker, Hagen Honor Hacker and Khloe Lynn Hacker; three great grandchildren Weston Lyncoln Hood, Wynter Arabelle Hood and Wyatt Mattox Hood; one sister Sherry Ann Benson Vaughn, married to Boyd Vaughn; two sisters-in-law Carolyn Hacker and Gwen Hacker and two nieces and one nephew Valeri Vaughn Freeman, Delisa Vaughn Boyd and Kenton Marc Sigle.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her husband Bartley Dowell, her first husband Joe Hacker, a son Stacy Randal Hacker, a daughter-in-law Debbie Hacker, a son-in-law Mark Whisner, her parents Haskell Faye Benson and Verdie May Benson, a sister Norma Genelle Sigle and a nephew Johnny Brent Sigle.

Memorials can be made to the Hereford Senior Citizens, 426 Ranger, Hereford, TX 79045

You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.mendezandmullins.com