Lydia Dowling

Lydia Hurta Gross Dowling, age 98, of Taylor passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2024. She was born Dec. 8, 1926 to Charles and Karolina Hurta and grew up in the Beyersville area as a child.

Lydia was born at the beginning of the great depression. She married Ben Gross during WWII. She came to know Christ thanks to Ben and his mother. She was baptized as a young adult and taught her children the importance of prayer. Times were hard and Lydia learned early to be frugal and creative. She was a very successful gardener, canning what she raised. She was an excellent seamstress, sewing clothes for her children long before she had a machine. Lydia loved having company in her home and was a gracious host, serving something scrumptious to eat along with lots of coffee and coaxing anyone who would sit around the table into playing a game of dominoes! She worked at a sewing factory for many years. She also worked for a short time at the University of Texas. Her final job was working at Wal-Mart when it opened in Taylor.

Later Lydia married Ed Dowling, who was the love of her life. They had 24 beautiful years together playing cards, games, and bingo, dancing to polkas, traveling, and searching for the perfect treasure at garage sales. They both had creative souls and Lydia taught herself to paint with oils. She painted several beautiful paintings that hang in her children and grandchildren’s homes today.

Lydia was a strong woman who loved life. She loved shopping trips with her daughters. She was also always eager to try new things, whether it be a roller coaster or riding a motorcycle! God blessed her with good health that allowed her to enjoy 98 beautiful years. She was not afraid of death. She often said she knew where she was going when this life was over…to meet her Lord and Savior.

Lydia was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, seven sisters, Elsie, Esther, Ruby, Julie, Velma, Helen, and Doris, and five brothers, Roy, Rhode, Charles, Edward, and Jerry, and her son in law, French Poe. She is survived by a sister Betty Jane Hurta. She also leaves behind her three children, Connie Poe Junkin and husband, Bobby; Sandra Milburn and husband, Billy; and Brian Gross and wife, Ginger; 8 grandchildren, Starr O’Neil and husband, Jeff; Christy Fearon; Pam Loredo and husband, Joe; Mirriah Milburn Seggern and husband, Charlie; Kassidy Milburn Farris and husband, Travis; Brianna Martindale and husband, Scott; Keegan Gross and wife, Ashley; and Braden Gross and wife, Grace; and 17 great grandchildren, Meagan O’Neil, Bryton O’Neil, Sienne Fearon, Hayden Wilcox, Logan Wilcox, Caden Seggern, Evan Seggern, Grady Farris, Granger Farris, Eli Martindale, Ethan Martindale, Anna Claire Martindale, Dalton Gross, Corey Gross, Walker Gross, Kinsley Mae Gross, and Westley Gross.

Visitation will be Monday, Dec. 16 from 5-7pm at Providence Funeral Home. Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 11:00am at Taylor City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jeff O’Neil, Bryton O’Neil, Charlie Seggern, Logan Wilcox, Keegan Gross and Braden Gross.

The family would like to thank Dr. Franklin Chang for his years of care and the caregivers and nurses of the Falcon Ridge Rehab Nursing Home and the Baylor S&W Hospice team and Tara that cared for Lydia this past year. Memorials may be given to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Taylor, 401 W. 7th St., Taylor, Texas 76574 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital .