Published in Navasota Examiner.
Navasota, Texas
July 2007


Madeline Dowdy Grant Swingler was born July 31, 1922 in Boone Prairie, Robertson County, Texas to Charles Claud and Eddie Carter Dowdy. She was the ninth child in the family with ten brothers and sisters. She passed away July 21, 2007 at the age of 84.

Madeline graduated from high school in Franklin, Texas and then graduated from Brackenridge School of Nursing in 1944, where she became a Registered Nurse. Madeline loved nursing and was a private duty nurse for many years, and then she worked at the clinic at Brackenridge Hospital.

She married the love of her life, Thomas Alexander Grant, on January 26, 1944 and several years after his death, married Jay Swingler on Dec. 31, 1981.

Madeline is survived by one daughter and her husband, Neva Joyce and William T. Walkoviak of Plantersville, Texas; two sons, Kenneth Wright Grant of Plantersville, Texas and Charles Thomas Grant of Del Valle, Texas; two grandsons, Rodney Wayne Hrachovy of Florence, Texas and William Scott Hrachovy of Austin, Texas; two great-grandsons, William Tyler and James Allen Hrachovy of Hutto, Texas.

She is also survived by sisters, Nora Swingler, Evelyn Moran, and Myrna Gustafson; brothers, John E. Dowdy, Jack Dowdy and wife, Lois; sister-in-law, Nan Dowdy and sister-in-law and husband, Wilma and Larry Hans; along with many nieces, nephews, and other family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Eddie Dowdy; husbands, Thomas Alexander Grant of 32 years and Jay Swingler of 12 years; brothers, Carter Dowdy and James B. Dowdy; sisters, Verna Hand, Julia Ruth Dowdy, and Beulah Kendrick.

Visitation will be between 6 and 8 p.m., Monday, July 23, 2007 at the Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville.Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 24, 2007 in the Memorial Chapel of the Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Rodney Hrachovy, Scott Hrachovy, Bill Hrachovy, Joe Dowdy, Jim Walker, Martin Thomas, and Kenny Kendrick. Honorary pallbearers are great-grandsons, Tyler Hrachovy and James Hrachovy.

The family expresses a special thanks to the staff of Sheridan of Navasota and all the doctors and nurses of Grimes St. Joseph Hospital in Navasota who cared for her.Arrangements by Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville.