Obituary of Dee Ann Downs McCarrel

Dee Ann Downs McCarrel 

Dee was born on April 22, 1953, in Fairbury, Nebraska, to Robert (Bob) and Jeannine Downs, and she passed away peacefully on March 8, 2024, while holding her daughter’s hand.  

Bob and Jeannine moved to the Wild West (Boise, Idaho) when Dee was 18 months old, much to the dismay of Dee’s Grandma – Grandma Marguerite. Dee grew up in Boise and attended Adams Elementary School and East Junior High. Dee was a ballerina as well as a “bell ringer” in the choir at the Cathedral of the Rockies (where Jeannine served as a Choir Mother).  

Dee’s sister Lesa joined the family in 1956, and the family began camping adventures to beautiful Ponderosa State Park in the camp trailer that Bob built from hand, the “Gypsy Holiday”. Many fond memories were made during the weekend camping trips!  

Dee’s sister Jaye B. joined the family in 1961, and the family was complete! Due to Bob’s career, the family moved to Spokane, Washington, in 1966. Continuing the camping adventures, weekends were spent at Davis Lake, again camping in the Gypsy Holiday. Dee graduated from Ferris High School in 1971 and began attending Spokane Falls Community College. Bob’s career took the family back to Boise in 1972.  

Dee attended Boise State University and graduated as a Dental Assistant in 1975. She then began her career working at the Idaho State School and Hospital assisting Dr. John Kriz in providing dental care to disabled children and adults. She often shared stories of some of the challenges they encountered while providing care to individuals who often weren’t able to communicate their needs/concerns.  

Dee married Ed McCarrel in 1980 and the pride and joy of her life, Amber Dawn, was born later that year. Dee and Ed later divorced.   

On a snowy evening in December 1987, Dee was involved in a car accident, she was hit by a drunk driver. This accident forever altered the course of her life. The night of the accident her family was given the news that the medical professionals didn’t think she would make it through the night. Miracles do happen, and Dee began a four-month journey of relearning every aspect of living including walking and talking. She suffered a traumatic brain injury during this accident, and it resulted in significant memory loss that was never fully regained. During her hospital stay, Dee was dubbed “the Divine One” by the Mother of her hospital room mate. (The actual Biblical translation of Dee Ann is Divine Person, which Dee truly was!)  

After Dee was released from the hospital, Bob and Jeannine cared for her in the family home for two years. Amber Dawn stayed with them frequently, and Grandpa Downs loved to make her “Egg McMuffins” with an occasional plastic spider thrown in for good measure! 

Once she was able, Dee moved into a townhouse close to Bob and Jeannine, and she lived there independently for a number of years. She was so proud of the bedroom she and Amber Dawn decorated so Amber Dawn had her own bedroom when she stayed with Dee. Dee’s home was filled with so many antiques, trinkets, and live plants, it literally took hours and hours to dust everything! Unfortunately, Dee fell down the stairs of her townhouse and suffered injuries that resulted in a move into assisted living. Due to the level of care that Dee needed, she moved into a long-term care facility in 2014. Dee enjoyed the outings she was able to participate in, including trips to the Western Idaho State Fair with Amber Dawn and the Dollar Store (from which she would return with numerous trinkets).  

The second pride and joy of Dee’s life was her beautiful granddaughter, Azurrhea Grace Prater, who was born in 2004. Amber Dawn and Azurrhea visited Dee often, and these visits were the most precious times for Dee!  

Dee is survived by her mother Jeannine, her daughter Amber Dawn McCarrel, granddaughter Azurrhea Grace Prater, sister Lesa Becker, sister Jaye B. (Steve) Pierce, nephews Sam and Joe Becker, and nieces Marissa (Brendan) Nickel and Mikaela (Chelsey) Ramos. She is also survived by great-nephews Asher Nickel, Paxton and Ryder Ramos, and great nieces Berklee and Oaklyn Ramos, as well as her aunt Betty Ann White, uncle Jim (Mary) Bower, and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her father Robert Downs, grandparents, and brother-in-law, Bob Becker. 

A celebration of Dee’s life will be held on Friday, March 22, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Summers Funeral Home - Ustick Chapel in Boise, followed by burial at Morris Hill Cemetery at 1 p.m. Dee’s family would love to see you to help remember Dee! Dee always loved her blue jeans, so please dress casually, and she’d be so happy if you wear jeans!  

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity that is near and dear to your heart.