Michael J. Mcdowell

Michael John (Mike) McDowell of Benton Harbor died Friday, April 23, 2004 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph after a short battle with cancer. His family will receive friends at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph from 7:00-9:00 P.M. Wednesday, April 28. Mike was born November 7, 1943 in Benton Harbor. He served honorably in the United States Army and saw duty in Vietnam from 1965 through 1966. Before retirement, he was employed most of his life in the restaurant business and owned Mike?s Place in Berrien Springs for several years. Mike is survived by his parents, Wilson and Betty McDowell of Bridgman, brother Ross of Benton Harbor, sister Bonnie and her husband Martin Dawson of Benton Harbor, Aunt Pauline Berry of Kokomo, Indiana, and his companion of thirty-three years Jim Whitt. He is also survived by niece Katherine and her husband Dana Rose of Coloma, nephews David Dawson of St. Joseph and Jeffrey Dawson of Benton Harbor, many cousins, friends and the extended Whitt family. Mike was a nature lover and an avid hunter and fisherman. At his request there will be no funeral service. His ashes will be taken to the family farm in Trout Creek, Michigan. Memorials in his name may be made to the Shaya Whitt Scholarship Fund in care of Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home.