Martin “Kevin” Dowd, 69, Kansas City, KS, passed away peacefully in his sleep Monday, October 17, in Eudora, KS. A private service will be held with friends and family. Kevin was preceded in death by his mother Mary Frances Calaway Dowd, his father Matt Dowd, his sister Mary Beth Dowd, and his brothers Matt Dowd, Mike Dowd and Terry Dowd. Survivors include many nieces and nephews, friends and fellow artists.
Kevin was born August 2, 1953 in Kansas City, Missouri. He grew up the fourth of five siblings. He studied and appreciated art, music and media; he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ottawa University and his Masters of Liberal Arts from University of Missouri Kansas City. He lived and worked in the downtown Kansas City area most of his life, primarily at the Kansas City Art Institute and the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. He volunteered his time at the Rose Brooks Shelter and gave back to his community often. His love of music, good food and company often connected him to others in the art community. He loved to travel; one especially unique trip was his hitchhiking to Woodstock at the age of 16. He was a conscientious objector of the war and spent time living on a commune with other artists. He was as quirky as he was intelligent and as stubborn as he was creative and playful: an avid reader and maker, loving books and woodworking as well as photography, media and audio visual technology.
We celebrate Kevin’s life and remember his laughter and love of good music, and all things unique and artistic. He is loved.
Services will be private. The family suggests memorial donations to the non-profit: Rose Brooks, P.O. Box 320599, Kansas City, MO 64132; Offices (816) 523-5550; www.rosebrooks.org
