Mathew Dowling

Matt passed away peacefully on December 11, 2020 at home in Oklahoma City. Mathew Marion Dowling (Matt) was born to John Wesley Dowling and Mary Elizabeth "Mayme" Hall Dowling in Oklahoma City on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1931. He graduated from Putnam City High School in 1950. During his senior year, he enlisted in the Marines where he planned to play the Cornet in the USMC Band. His first assignment came in February when he and several other recruits were called out of high school to hunt for "Leapy" the leopard, who had escaped from the Oklahoma City Zoo and was loose in the city. His photo on the front page of the paper came as a great surprise to his mother who did not know he had enlisted! Matt completed basic training and sniper training at Camp Pendleton. On his way to Korea during the war, he was taken off the ill-fated ship due to a heart defect that was never again detected. Upon return, he spent six weeks in a naval hospital where his complete color blindness was analyzed and studied for use in camouflage research and development. He then received an honorable, medical discharge.Growing up, Matt attended Olivet Baptist Church where he was baptized as a child. He later joined Westminster Presbyterian Church where he served for many years as a deacon and elder. He was a founding board member of Westminster School. Later, he joined Crossings Community Church where he enjoyed Sunday School and Men's Bible Study.Matt graduated with a Business Degree from OU, and in 1957, he graduated from the OU School of Law. He remained an avid Sooner fan all of his life. In 1956, he married Ann Davenport and they lived in OKC until her passing in February 1977. They had two daughters, Laura and Elaine. Matt and Ann were some of the early homeowners in Quail Creek where Matt became a lifelong member of Quail Creek Golf and Country Club spending many wonderful days on the golf course and in the card room. Matt married Linda Brown in 1978 and they lived happily in Oklahoma City for 42 years.After Law School, Matt went into the family school supply business, Dowlings Inc. He also went on to found Educational Electronics Inc. (EEI) and Math-U-Matic Inc. In 1975, Matt returned to the Law opening his own practice with his childhood friend, Bob Schick. Matt was truly a general practitioner taking on many different types of cases, but he always loved criminal defense law. Toward the end of his career, he became well known for his pardon and parole work and spent many hours visiting inmates in prisons across Oklahoma. He was well known throughout the hallways of many Municipal, County, Appellate and Federal Courthouses.Matt was a recovering alcoholic for the last 38 years. He credited AA and his return to sobriety with saving his life. Matt loved the game of golf and enjoyed playing many pro-am tournaments around the country where he had the pleasure of playing with Bob Hope, Arnold Palmer, Bob Newhart and many others. On the golf course, in the courthouse, in the card room and at home, Matt is fondly remembered for his brilliant mind, photographic memory, creative ideas, fun loving sense of humor, incredible generosity and enduring charm. Matt was preceded in death by his parents, Doc and Mayme Dowling; his brothers, John and Dick Dowling; and his wife, Ann Dowling. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Linda Dowling; his daughters Laura Dowling Feix (Terry) and Elaine Dowling (Monty Walls); his grandsons Mathew Cole Feix, Carson Feix (Rachel), and Tucker Feix (Holly); and his great granddaughter, Marigold Feix (Carson & Rachel) along with many nieces and nephews.The Dowling family would like to thank Integris Hospice, Providence Home Health, caregivers Marsha and Marjorie and Physical Therapist, Ralph Redline for the loving care they provided. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, December 17, 2020, at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary at Crossings Community Church. The family asks that social distancing be observed and masks be worn. To view the service online, visit Matt's obituary page at www.smithandkernke.com, scroll to the bottom of the obituary text and click on "View Funeral Service". In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Crossings Community Church Prison Ministry.