Charles Lee McDowell "Chuck"

Charles Lee McDowell passed away peacefully in his home on July 6, 2026, in Hurricane, Utah, at the age of 74.

He was born on January 27, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Gilbert and Virginia McDowell. He was the 6th of 7 children and spent his childhood across the Salt Lake and Weber County areas, where he grew a love of instruments — playing piano and taking five years of lessons, learning the church organ, and moving to the cello in seventh grade, an instrument he continued to play for many years.

As a teenager, he took up the bagpipes, piping first with the Royal Scots Pipe Band and later with the Utah Pipe Band under David Barclay and his sons. Through the pipe band he had the rare privilege of personally playing for LDS Church President David O. McKay and his wife, and the band performed at President McKay's funeral. Along the way he also crossed paths with Vice President Hubert Humphrey and comedian Bob Hope — stories he loved to tell. He toured actively with the band for decades, performing at hundreds of events including the Utah Highland Games, weddings, funerals, parades and more, culminating his career with the Utah Pipe Band with a tour through Europe in 2024.

He served an LDS mission to Scotland from 1971 to 1973, an experience that left a deep and lasting impression on him. His parents later traveled to Scotland to meet him, and together they visited Colmonell, the ancestral home of his father's family, who had emigrated from the British Isles in the mid-1860s. This was a lasting experience for Chuck as he later spent much of his professional occupation in IT, building a career he was proud of and later expanding into his own personal consulting business, Colmonell LLC.

After his mission, he attended Brigham Young University from 1973 to 1977. During his tenure at BYU, Chuck interned with Senator Jake Garn for a year in 1974 and managed his campaign at BYU, a very formative experience for him.

At the conclusion of Chuck's time with BYU, he welcomed his first child, Marci Virginia McDowell. It was later that he met Debra Lee Roldan, who became his wife and life partner of 40 years. Together they had two children, Cassandra Celeste McDowell and Ranch Levi McDowell — Ranch's name a nod to his own great-great-uncle Ranch Kimball.

Chuck loved a challenge and enjoyed learning. He returned to school at 50 years of age earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Utah in 2004. A proud graduate of West High School and a lifelong Ute at heart, he spent many happy years tailgating and cheering on the U of U football team, a passion he carried with him to the end.

The Salt Lake valley became the heart of his civic life, as Chuck had a passion to serve others and to serve his community. He volunteered during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games for many of the events hosted across the valley, an experience he remained immensely proud of for the rest of his life. He served as Chair of the Kearns Community Council for a number of years, was active with the Salt Lake County Democratic party, and ran for the Utah State Legislature (District 38) in both 2004 and 2006. Charles also served on the ZAP (Zoo, Arts & Parks) Tier 2 Board, championing community projects he believed in. His local charity work included financial support and volunteer offerings for Meals on Wheels and the Lions Club, later running his community HOA in Harrisburg where he resided for the remainder of his life.

He is survived by so many who loved him although most importantly by his wife Debra; his children, Marci, Cassandra (Saul), and Ranch (Brooklyn); his grandchildren, Dayton, Aurelia, Justina, Sterling, Shiloh, Shasta, Sarah, Lexi, and Stella; his great-granddaughter, Alana; and his sisters, Margaret Davis, Elaine Spencer (Doug), Annette Stacy, and Martha Sandone (Bob), and his sister-in-law Arlyse McDowell. He is preceded in death by his father Gilbert, his mother Virginia, his sister Joyce and his brother Gilbert.

The family welcomes you to an honorary celebration of life, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 668 East Second Ave in Salt Lake City. At 1:30 p.m. all are welcome to attend a brief graveside dedication at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Chuck loved Mark Twain, so we will leave you with this quote to remember as you think of him: “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”