November 7, 2022
Monetta Tramel McDowell, age 81, passed away quietly at the Sherman Home Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, Arizona in the early morning of September 28, 2022, with her son Christian by her side. She was born in Smithville, TN February 17, 1941 to her parents, the late Alton and Lena Wiley Tramel. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Alan McDowell and sister, Margaret Tramel. She lived in Smithville until 1961 when she made the brave drive across country to settle in the Los Angeles area. She lived in Glendale, Rocklin and Roseville, CA and in Glendale and Mesa, AZ until the time of her death.
Some of the jobs Monetta held throughout her life were Administrative Assistant, Real Estate Agent, Travel Agent Warner Bros. Records, California Dental Association and owner of a Women’s Clothing Boutique in Auburn, California. This job she loved the most as she traveled the country, visiting shows and looking for unique clothes to buy and sell in her shop. She was Homecoming Queen in 1958, and graduated from DeKalb County High School in 1959 and then attended Middle Tennessee State University. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She loved gardening, crochet, knitting, photography, reading jewelry making and oil painting and volunteering at her nearby community library when she lived in Roseville, CA.
She is survived by her loving son, Christian Woodhead of Rohnert Park, CA; sisters, Amelia Annette Blair of McKinney, TX, Werdna Carol Moss of Murfreesboro, TN, and Peggy Lou Wilkins of Queens Creek, AZ; brother, Thomas Alton (Linda) Tramel of Montrose, CO; nieces, Lisa Starbird, Salena Lopez (Joel) Tramel, Tracy Simmons, Margaret (Chris) Fecko and Dawn Blair; nephews, John Alton (Christie) Busic, Steve (Kellie) Moss, Greg Moss, Wiley Popovich, Douglas (Lori) Blair; cousins, Paulette McDonald and Tricia Wood.
Funeral services will be held 10:AM Saturday November 12, 2022 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel and burial to follow in Whorton Springs Cemetery. Family and Friends will begin gathering at 9:AM for the service. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.