HAINES CITY - James Orris Dowdy, 70, died peacefully at Haines City Health Care, surrounded by his loving family, on March 9, 2010 from lewy body dementia. 

He was born to Frank and Hattie Belle Dowdy on October 1, 1939 in Savannah, Georgia. 

After graduating from high school at Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee, he attended Armstrong State College in Savannah, Georgia, and St. John’s River Community College in Palatka, Florida. 

In 1962 Jim married his wife, Cherry.  They had two sons, James Landy Dowdy and Kenneth Alden Dowdy.  They moved to Haines City in 1971, where Jim Dowdy was employed as a truck broker for 39 years, most recently working with his good friend Delane Wilkinson. 

Jim is survived by his wife of 47 years, Cherry, his sons Landy (Chrissy) and Ken (Kim), and his grandchildren Tajima, Kristi, Kelli, Traci, and Alden Dowdy, and Tyler and Drake Fletcher.  Jim is also survived by his brothers Clark Dowdy, Frank Dowdy, Jr., and his sister Mitzi Hand.  

Visitation will be from5 to 7 PM. Thursday at Oak Ridge Funeral Care.  

A service will be held on Friday, March 12, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City, Florida.  A reception will follow the service in the Lake Eva Banquet Hall.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, Florida, 33823.  Condolences can be made to the family at www.oakridgefuneralcare.com.