George Dewey Dowd Jr., 96, of Siler City, died Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Dewey was born in Chatham County on March 18, 1930, to George Dewey Dowd Sr. and Myrtle Fields Dowd. He was a lifelong member of Rives Chapel Baptist Church and he served on the cemetery committee. He had a great interest in genealogy, farming and gardening, and bird hunting. Dewey served in the United States Army, where he was stationed in Europe post-WWII and drove a tank. He worked at Collins & Aikman for several years before becoming a federal poultry inspector. And through it all he was a hard-working farmer, husband, brother, dad, and neighbor.

Dewey was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Inez Oldham Hough Dowd, Eliza Willett Dowd, and Lilly Belle Mote Dowd; his daughter, Frances Dowd Payne and brothers, Guy, Earl and Clyde Dowd.

Dewey is survived by his daughter, Kay Mazurek (Bob); grandchildren, Marilyn Payne and Martin Payne (Kharen); special cousin, Janet Fields (Dwight); step-children, Sue Marsh (Nelson), Randy Hough (Andrea), Jeannie Roscoe (Tom); 9 step-grandchildren, 8 step great-grandchildren, and 1 step great great-grandchild.

A visitation will be held on Monday May 4, 2026, at Rives Chapel Baptist Church at 2:00pm. The funeral service will follow at 3:00 pm. with Rev. Michael Skinner and Rev. John Hackney officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.

The family is requesting in lieu of flowers; donations be made to Children’s Home Society of NC HealthySteps Program; 604 Meadow Street, Greensboro, NC 27405.

Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Dowd family.

Online Condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh.com