Lyle H. McDowell passed away November 14, 2021, at the age of 102, joining his wife Marron F. McDowell who passed away on July 6, 2009, at the age of 87. Mr. McDowell was born April 22, 1919, in Beattyville, Kentucky, and moved to Irvine with his parents, Mr. James A. and Mrs. Maud E. McDowell in 1920. He began his education at West Irvine Elementary School and graduated from Irvine High School in 1936. He attended Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College (Eastern Kentucky State University) for two years and graduated from Colorado A&M College (Colorado State University) in January 1942 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. He earned a commission in the US Naval Reserve and served as the Commanding Officer of the USS APc 98 in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. After his release from active duty, Mr. McDowell remained in the Naval Reserve and retired with the rank of Commander. Following his active duty, Mr. McDowell earned a master's degree in Forest Recreation in preparation for commencing work with the National Park Service as a park ranger in April 1948 at the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park in Asheville, NC. During his 30-year career, he served in four national parks (Blue Ridge Parkway, Everglades National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Glacier National Park), two Regional Offices and the Washington Office where he served as First Chief, Brach of Natural Resources Management. His last assignment was Associate Regional Director of Operations, Western Region, San Francisco, CA, from which he retired in April 1977 after 37 years of federal service. After his retirement in 1977, Mr. and Mrs. McDowell relocated to Oceanside, CA where he realized a life-long dream to own a sailboat. He purchased a 26-foot sloop. Which he sailed for ten years. Mrs. McDowell was born May 5, 1922, in Munroe, LA to Mr. J. Edward and Mrs. Ann Etta Moore. She spent her early life in Duluth, MN, Vero Beach, FL, and Dallas, TX. She graduated from Addison High School in Dallas followed by the College of Marin in San Rafael, CA, from which she graduated with an Associate of Fine Arts degree. During World War II she was a hostess at the Dallas USO Club where she met her future husband, Lyle H. McDowell. They were married January 8, 1946, and had two children, James Edward, and Pamela Ann. Mrs. McDowell's passions were her family and her art. She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. While her husband served as Chief Ranger at Glacier National Park, she began a serious study of art in painting, which became her passion for the remainder of her life. She studied under several of the leading art teachers in the United States over the next ten years and her skill and talent blossomed. Her paintings appeared in many adjudicated art shows both local and international where her work received numerous awards and recognitions. She was a member of several local art organizations and served as Vice President of San Diego Watercolor Society in California Where she coordinated the International Watercolor Exhibition. Mrs. McDowell Maintained her interest in art and continued to paint throughout the rest of her. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell are survived by their son, James Edward of Manassas, VA, their daughter Pamela Ann of Longmont, CO, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The cremains of Mr. and Mrs. McDowell are to be jointly interred in Oakdale Cemetery in Irvine, KY, adjacent to the graves of his sister and brother-in-law, Ethah W. and Wayne E. Cox, on May 5, 2022 at 3PM.