Julie Ann McDowell Garner

Julie Ann McDowell Garner was born on November 13, 1973, to Gary McDowell and Ruth Ann Morse McDowell in Princeton, Kentucky. In 1979, she moved with her family to the Mississippi Gulf Coast where she would live for the remainder of her life. The Lord called her home on Monday, January 16, where she is rejoicing with her Dad and all her loved ones who have gone on before her. Julie suffered from asthma for most of her life and had severe pneumonia last year; she never fully recovered, but God allowed her to stay with her family for several more months. Her death was sudden and unexpected. She was always happy and inspired many with her positive attitude. She is survived by her son, Joshua Andrew "Drew" Garner, who she loved dearly, her mother, Ruth McDowell, her best friend since fifth grade, Michael "Mike" Adkins Seymour, many, many dear friends, and her dog, Charlie; aunts and uncles in Mississippi, John Morse, Richard and Tammy Morse, Jeanne McDowell, and Robert and Carol McDowell from Missouri, a niece, a nephew, and numerous cousins. Julie was an only child, so her friends became her family, and Mike was like a sister to her. Drew was such a joy to her. She was preceded in death by her dad, Gary McDowell; grandparents, Robert Cleo and Ozelle McDowell and Jeff and Ruby Morse; her uncles, Joel Morse and William McDowell Sr. She graduated in 1991 from Gulfport High School and received her Bachelors in English and Psychology from USM. She was married for almost nineteen years to Kenneth "Keith" Garner, Drew's dad. She was a talented singer and songwriter who sang with her dad under the name of "Headin' Home" and had a top ten hit on the Christian Country Charts. For several years, they traveled across the country singing gospel music. She loved singing and playing the piano. She lived her life to the fullest, going skydiving and visiting New York right after 911. She loved traveling, and she loved adventure. Her love of our Lord and Savior was evident in her life. She trusted Jesus for salvation and believed that He died for her sins. She was a member of Northwood Church in Gulfport, where she loved to attend. Julie was the Digital Marketing Manager at WLOX. She absolutely loved her job and her co-workers. She decided this was the job that she wanted to stay with until she retired. She loved every day that she went to work. Julie will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations to the Humane Society of South Mississippi, 2615 25th Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501. Also, the family requests that if you live far away, that you do not go to the expense and time to make the trip to Mississippi, but instead to spend that time doing something special with your family at home. The service is Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport.