NORTH CAROLINA, Feb. 9 – Christy Bowles Dowd, 55, of Siler City, NC, died Saturday, February 6, 2010 at her residence. Mrs. Dowd was born September 20, 1954, the daughter of Ronald E. and Elizabeth (Shorter) Bowles Jr.

Mrs. Dowd was a native of Prince Edward County but had lived most of her life in Chatham County, NC. She was a member of the Farmville Presbyterian Church and a graduate of Prince Edward Academy and Virginia Intermont College in Bristol. She had been employed for 30 years as an Exceptional Children's Education Teacher of Chatham County, NC where she served as departmental chair-person. She was awarded the teacher of excellence award in 2005.

Mrs. Dowd is survived by her husband, Clyde “Buddy” A. Dowd Jr.; two sons, Phillip Dowd of the home, and Ryan Dowd of Raleigh, NC; parents, Ronald and Elizabeth Bowles of Farmville; two brothers, Phillip C. Bowles of Hanover, and David L. Bowles and wife, Lori of Carpenteria, CA; father-in-law, Clyde A. Dowd Sr. and wife, Margaret of Siler City, NC; nephew, Dalton L. Bowles; two nieces, Jessica and Caitlynn Bowles and one great-nephew, Brayden.

The family will receive friends Tuesday (tonight) from 6-8 p.m. at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home, Siler City, NC.

The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Rives Chapel Baptist Church, Siler City with the Rev. J. R. Bouldin and John Phillips officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

A special memorial fund will be setup for exceptional children in Memory of Christy Dowd for Chatham County Schools, c/o Diane Campbell, 1982 Epps Clark Road, Siler City, NC 27344.

Smith & Buckner Funeral Home, North Carolina, served the family.