Fr. James Dowd, 90, of Cottage Grove, Ore. died on Feb. 3, 2021. Born in Ballyhaise, Ireland on Dec. 9, 1930, he was the son of James Dowd and Kate Farrelly. Father Dowd has joined his brothers, Patrick and Paul, who preceded him in death.
Father James attended St. Patrick’s Seminary College and All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland. He was ordained on June 17, 1956 for the Archdiocese of Portland, Ore. He worked as an assistant pastor at St. James, McMinnville; St. Alice, Springfield; St. Francis, Portland; and Assumption, Portland. He was named pastor of St. Patrick’s in Canby, Ore. in 1968. He served there until 1983, when he went to St. Mark’s in Eugene, serving there until his transfer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Cottage Grove in 1988, where he served until his retirement in 2003.
Father Dowd enjoyed golf and gardening. He is survived by 11 nieces and nephews – all of Ireland, and many treasured former parishioners in the Archdiocese.
Due to COVID-19, no services will be held locally. A private burial will be held in Cullies Cemetery, County Cavan, Ireland. Arrangements by Musgrove Family Mortuary.