A going home celebration honoring the life of Inez West Dowden were held at Prewitt’s Chapel Baptist Church in Hornbeck November 12 with the Reverends Nick Hilton and Douglas Downs officiating. Inez was the oldest member of Prewitt’s Chapel Church and life long resident of Prewitt’s Chapel Community. She attended school at Hornbeck High School and married Jiles Joseph Dowden on July 27, 1929. Their union was blessed with a Godly home and seven children. She was a loving faithful wife and a wonderful mother and grandmother. Inez was a wonderful cook and enjoyed the family gathered around her dining table. Everyone always wanted a slice of her famous coconut cake. After losing her husband at 50-years-old she chose to go to work outside her home. Inez was employed as a cafeteria cook at Plainview High School until its closing. Then she worked at Toro Hills for a number of years. Later she was employed at USA Hospital at Fort Polk Department of Nursing Assistant until her retirement. She loved to attend the Hornbeck Senior Center with her lady friends and attend the basketball games at Hornbeck High School. She was blessed to live alone in her home until 100 years of age. Inez then became a resident of Sabine Retirement and Rehab making many friends. She loved her family and especially her birthday time when they all came home to celebrate her birthday. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in the family plot at Prewitt’s Chapel Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie West and Cora Mitchell West; step-mother, Jane Funderburk West; husband, Jiles Joseph Dowden; sons, James O. V. “Baby” Dowden, Bobby and Billy Dowden; step-son, Buck Dowden; grandsons, Eugene Dowden and Joseph Lynn Hyatt; daughters-in-law, Betty West and Frances Sandel Dowden; brothers-in-law, Ance Ellzey and the Rev. A. V. Bardwell; brothers, Debs, Charlie and M. C. West; and sisters, Mina West Kennon and Ila Mae West Davis. She is survived by her sisters, Dorothy West Bardwell and Ruth West Ellzey; son, Charles Allen Dowden and wife Ann; daughters, Mablene Dowden Kelly and husband, Bill, and Joy Dowden Hyatt and husband, Michael; daughter-in-law, Lucille Sandel Dowden; grandsons, Steven and Bobby Wayne Dowden and Jon Hyatt; granddaughters, Brenda Dowden Hilton, Rita Dowden Hilton, Angela Dowden Averitt, Tandy Dowden Killen, Sherril Woodward, Cindy Magio, Vicki Prichard, Shiela Gibson, Gayla Thaxton and Belinda Beverly; 24 great grandchildren, 33 great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Honoring her as pallbearers were Bobby Wayne Dowden, Jon Hyatt, Jason Hilton, Jeremy Hilton, Larry Averitt, Will Berry and Kevin Killian. The family would like to give a special thanks to Sabine Retirement and Rehab and staff and Dr. Jack Corley and staff. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Prewitt’s Chapel Cemetery, P. O. Box 185, Hornbeck, LA 71439.
July 15, 2026
