Janet Noel McDowell (nee Wallace), known as Jay to family and friends and Grammy Jay or JJ to her grandchildren, passed away September 29, 2025. Born to Adrian and Mildred Wallace on December 25, 1941, every subsequent Christmas family gathering was sure to conclude with a birthday cake and presents, a tradition that continued throughout her life. Jay grew up with her sister Sheila and brother Michael (Mike) on the north shore of Long Island, sharing the top floor of a historic home in Stony Brook. As she is predeceased in death by her two older siblings, we like to think that they are sharing the top floor again. Jay attended Keuka College where she met and later married Arlo McDowell, an engineering student, at nearby Cornell University. Jay's BA in History led her to teach 9th grade Social Studies for several years before starting a family. After the kids arrived, she worked as a classroom aide as well as teaching Sunday School classes. Married for 61 years, Jay and Arlo raised their three children, Colin, Ian, and Cary, splitting time between Buffalo, NY and Las Cruces, NM depending on where Arlo’s career took them, finally retiring in Tucson, Arizona. Colin co-founded and is the Technical Officer of McDSP (McDowell Signal Processing) which creates audio industry products, one of which earned him an Emmy. Ian, Vice President and Regional Director at Sundt, is well known in Tucson and Phoenix through management of Sundt construction projects and many civic activities. Cary Sheila's career as a genetic counselor has ranged from individual case work to managing a national network of genetic counselors. Jay never tired of telling stories of her children, delighting in their successes and accomplishments as well as their hijinks. Jay’s enjoyment of her children and their happiness was eventually transferred (and amplified) upon the arrival of the grandbabies. She was the type of grandmother who derived unmeasurable joy from talking about, spending time with, or just thinking about her grandchildren. Jay’s intelligence and quick wit led her to enjoy reading the news and discussing current events and politics. A favorite story she would retell involved driving home from college in her VW bug to visit her conservative father donning a JFK for President button upon her lapel. It comes as no surprise that two of her granddaughters are studying political science in college and one of them drives a VW Bug. Jay is survived by her husband, Arlo, who put aside his hobbies to be her full-time caretaker as Alzheimer’s claimed Jay’s independence. Jay’s memory will forever be a blessing to her children, Colin McDowell (Diana Lee), Ian McDowell (Jennifer) and Cary Armstrong (Brock) and her magnificent grandchildren Helena, Sarah, Sabrina, Emily, Kate, Norah and Ben. Jay is also survived by a loving extended family who have been a great comfort to her over the years, as well as dear and lifelong friends (particularly Lucy and Debbie). While working at Edwards Air Force Base, when anyone, military or civilian, left his laboratory work group, Arlo would prepare a humorous list of the Top 10 Things that caused the person to go. He figured that it was better to enjoy a friendly chuckle rather than lament the departure. His list of the Top 10 Things that we will miss about Jay are all identical: Jay being Jay. Having survived two separate types of cancer, Jay volunteered for various support groups including volunteering at a chemo infusion center. Friends and family are encouraged to make a donation to Ovarian Cancer Research (https://ocrahope.org/ ) in her memory. A memorial service will be planned at a later time.