Charlotte -- Raymond McKinley McDowell, 72, of 5151 Sardis Road, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, February 6th, 2015, at Sardis Oaks Nursing Home after a five year illness.

Born in Saluda, NC, he was the son of the late Claude and Daisy Epperson McDowell. Mr. McDowell retired from Hoechst Celanese in Shelby in October of 1999 and was a member of Mt. Paran Baptist Church. Mr. McDowell loved racing and he loved to spend time at the beach or on cruises.

He is survived by a son, Roger McDowell; a daughter, Chris Harris-Hart; four grandchildren, Megan, Grayson, Dusty, and Kara; one brother, Don McDowell; and two sisters, Ellen McDowell Bridges and Barbara McDowell Blackmon.

In addition to his parents, Mr. McDowell was preceded in death by two brothers, Claude McDowell Jr. and Eugene McDowell, and one sister, Eula McDowell Bowen.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 8th, 2015, from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Gordon Mortuary. Funeral services will immediately follow at 3:00 pm with Rev. Jay Clever, Mrs. Sandra McDowell Smith, and officiating. Private interment will be held in the Mt. Paran Baptist Church Cemetery. Mark McDowell, Randy McDowell, John Eubanks, Joseph Coley, Joshua Blackmon, and Donald Turner will serve as pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to Mt. Paran Baptist Church, 105 Mt. Paran Road, Blacksburg, SC 29702.

The family will be at their respective homes.

The Book of Memories is available at www.gordonmortuary.com.