James Morgan Dowtin
December 17, 1920 ~ June 7, 2009
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Arden – James Morgan Dowtin, 88, of 70 Old Shoals Road, died Sunday, June 7, 2009, at the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center.
A native of Asheville, he was the son of the late Robert and Agnes Lillian Morgan Dowtin, husband of the late Louise Hinkle Dowtin, who died in 2006 and was also preceded in death by his daughter, Elizabeth Louise Dowtin.
Jim graduated from Lee Edwards High School and attended Wake Forest College until enlisting in the Air Force. During World War II he was named the outstanding aviation cadet in 1944.
Jim was associated with M.B. Haynes Electric Co. for 27 years, serving as president for ten years, until his retirement in 1993.
He was an avid golfer and basketball player in high school and college. He won many golf titles including the 1947 Asheville City Amateur, the Country Club of Asheville Invitational and six Country Club of Asheville club championships.
Jim is survived by his son, James Morgan Dowtin, Jr. and wife, Susan Leemon Dowtin; two grandchildren, James Morgan Dowtin, III and wife, Emily, and Amanda Dowtin McLaughlin and husband, Adam; and two great granddaughters, Lauren Elizabeth Dowtin and Elizabeth Carter McLaughlin, all of Greensboro, NC
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, at Calvary Episcopal Churchyard.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to CarePartners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 or to the charity of one's choice.
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I was Mr. Dowtin’s secretary and Girl Friday for 21 years. He played a large part in my development at M. B. Haynes, and I learned a great deal from him. He will be truly missed by the MBH family. He made a great contribution to the Company in the years he served here.
I am going to miss Jim. It just doesn’t seem possible that Jim has passed away. My memorie of him is a big, strong, hard-working, atheletic man, who would live forever. His loyalty and dedication to MB Haynes Corporation couldn’t have been any stronger. He brought the highest work ethic into the company and transferred that work ethic to the department managers as well as the feild workers. He and my father worked together to take the company to be one of the best in Western North Carolina. Jim continued to push MB Haynes Corporation long after his retirement and right up to the last days of his life. What an impact he had on me, my brother, and MB Haynes Corporation. Lastly, I can’t sign off without mentioning what a pleasurable person Jim was to spend time with. As a natural salesman with a great since of humor, it was a treat to be included in any social or sporting event that Jim was a part of. We will all miss Jim.
Brett Cannady
Our love and thoughts are with Jim, Susan, Morgan, Amanda and their families. Uncle Jim was a special member of my family and it is hard to accept he is gone. We loved him and will always cherish all the fond memories of times spent with him. Our family trips to Asheville to visit with the Dowtin clan were one of the best memories I have growing up – especially our trip to Lake Lure for a family reunion in 1970, and Amanda’s wedding just last June. He was so happy that day and looking forward so much to being a great grandfather to Lauren and now Ellie.
I especially appreciate his calls to me in recent years to check on how I was doing. He had a big heart and showed alot of care and concern and never failed to say ‘I love you’ at the end of each conversation. I will never forget how much that meant to me.
The ‘Dowtin Boys’ – Jim, Robert, Bill, Al, Rex, Richard, and their cousin G.L Leslie, are now together – heaven is in for a lot of laughs!
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
I worked with Jim for nearly 10 years. I was the radio dispatcher when he was over the line dept at M.B. Haynes. During some really hard times in my life, Jim was there for me and went out of his way to help. He was like a father to me. He was tough and out-spoken, but at the same time, he was kind and caring. This world won’t be the same without him. He will be missed by many.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Carlton & Michelle at Head Hunter Salon
Our sincere sympathy to the family of Jim Dowtin. Wayne and Patsy Dover,J.L.and Melinda Dover
We were very sad to hear about the passing of ‘Big Jim’; however he will always be remembered as a great gentleman and golfer. It was so good to have seen him recently at the Sweetser – healthy, happy and excited about everything going on around him. I will miss seeing him as an avid spectator while we played golf.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as you go through this difficult time.
Love, Ronnie and Patty Sue
Jim Dowtin was a caring, giving individual and he will be missed. Jim played an important part in establishing and supporting the American Lung Association Golf Tournament which became the A-B Tech Foundation/K. Ray Bailey Golf Classic. Jim’s life and efforts have touched more individuals than we will ever know through his efforts to provide funding for scholarships to deserving students.
The Dowtin family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
To Jim and Susan,
I cannot tell you how many terrific memories I have from my days of golf or real estate business with Jim. His friendship I always appreciated and enjoyed. He treated me at times like another son, giving me good advice about this or that some of which I still remember and lean on. I hope you both are doing well and, as I have done with my late father, I hope you will hold the good times with Jim close to you forever. I know I will.
Best to you both, Bill
I am the daughter of Marvin Williams, one of Mr. Dowtin’s dear friends. After my dad had open heart surgery (04/14/2008), ‘Big Jim’ never failed to call dad every two weeks or so to see how he was doing. This really meant a lot to me. I didn’t know Mr. Dowtin personally, but when I heard his name or his voice on the phone; I knew he was someone very special to my dad . . . all the while not even knowing that Mr. Dowtin wasn’t well himself. Judging from the crowd at his service yesterday, he was very loved and will be greatly missed for a long, long time.
Dear Susan Jim, family and friends: I had the privilege of sharing 18 years of my working life with Jim as my teacher, supervisor and partner. Jim was a huge influence on me and so many of us at M B Haynes Corporation. Jim had the charisma and common sense to resolve any business situation, large or small. His influence and many of the standards that he demanded still live on at this company and have, without a doubt, been a huge factor in its success. Not a week goes by that someone doesn’t remind me of something Jim did or said while working with him or her at Haynes. Jim was an outstanding leader, a great person and a wonderful friend. I am truly grateful for the experiences and the time that I shared with him. Speaking for myself, and so many of us at M B Haynes, we will deeply miss him but the treasured memories of Jim Dowtin will continue to live on with so many of us.