Sarah “Sylvene” Wilkie McDowell passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 5, at The Oaks of Brevard.
Sylvene was born on February 18, 1940 to the late Fred and Ella Wilkie. She was the eldest of four children who grew up in Big Willow always surrounded by extended family.
Sylvene attended and graduated from Etowah School (1958) where she played basketball and was voted most athletic in her senior class. After high school she attended Cecil’s Business College in Asheville, NC. She married Grady McDowell in December of 1959. They moved to a little house in Big Willow and started a family the following year. Their son Darrell was born in 1960 and Dale was born a short 18 months later. Their lives were full of time spent with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. A few years later Sylvene and Grady built a little house on a hill on the property she grew up on and they remained there for the rest of their lives together.
Though not considered a rich woman by today’s standards her life was full of richness. Sylvene spent time doing the things she loved. She loved gardening – flowers and vegetables alike. She never met an animal she didn’t love, especially horses and cats. She was known for feeding all kinds of wildlife and strays. Sylvene loved visits with friends and family. She had friends from all walks of life who loved and respected her. She loved blue grass music. She loved to read and learn and was a talented writer herself. Sylvene loved sweets and when going to take care of her grandkids would always bring several grocery bags of sweet treats to share with them. Most of all she loved her family. There was never a time that she would not do her best to help anyone. She had a special love for her Grandmother Olivia and spent 8 years caring for her after she went blind. Sylvene was a great horsewoman. She loved and owned many horses throughout her life.(Toby was her favorite) She loved to ride and train. She eventually was able to turn her love of horses into a job that she also loved. She worked as the manager of Red Top Farm and Stables in Big Willow for 45 years until her late 70’s. She did it all there. From driving tractors, building fences, cleaning stalls and handling horses. She could work circles around most men. She loved being outdoors and the hard work. She was a member of the Etowah Riding Club where she served in many capacities. She competed in horse shows for many years and won many blue ribbons. She also helped to create the Appalachian Singlefoot Horse Breed Association working with Dr. J G Betts. Some of her best times in life were spent at these events and with the people who were members, many becoming close lifelong friends. She will be greatly missed by so many.
Sylvene is survived by her sons Darrell Mcdowell and wife Lisa, and Dale McDowell and wife Marcy; grandson Cameron McDowell; and granddaughters Candice Cartner (Ben) and Christin Monroe (Trevor); great-grandson Finley Cartner; and great-grand-daughter Rowen Cartner; sister Ethelyne Young; brother Carroll Wilkie, Alton Wilkie (Pat); and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Blue Ridge Humane Society in honor of Sylvene’s love of animals.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the entire staff of The Oaks of Brevard for the care and kindness shown to Sylvene during her time there. You are exceptional at what you do and we appreciate you.
A funeral service will be held Sunday, November 09, 2025 at two o’clock in the afternoon at Beulah Baptist Church, with Reverend Anthony Morgan officiating. Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the church.
Condolences may be sent to the McDowell family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or C/O Jackson Funeral Service 1101 Greenville Highway, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Please include the name of the deceased on the condolence.
