January 3, 2024
Michael Dowling
The Honorable Judge Michael Ross Dowling, 85, of Ashland, KY, died on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, in Oakmont Manor in Flatwoods. Mr. Dowling, the great-grandson of The Honorable Judge John D. Ross, the first judge of Boyd County, KY, was born May 13, 1938, in Ashland. He was the youngest of three children born to the late Michael Joseph Dowling and Frances Elizabeth Riffe Dowling.
Mr. Dowling was a lifelong member of Holy Family Church and a 1955 graduate of Holy Family School. He graduated from the University of Detroit (now University of Detroit Mercy) with an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and then graduated with a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC where he worked in the United States Patent & Trademark Office before returning to Kentucky to practice law. He was admitted to the Kentucky Bar Association on his birthday, May 13, 1966. He began his law career with the Ashland firm of Diederich, Hermansdorfer & Wilhoit. Mr. Dowling was elected Police Judge for the city of Ashland in November 1972.
Michael Dowling often worked pro bono. He believed in helping those who could not help themselves. He was astonishingly generous with his time and money. He believed most people were good and that a person who was struggling was one of “God’s misguided children.” His home, at the corner of 17thStreet & Montgomery Avenue, was built by and has been occupied by the Dowling family since 1904; in it, he often housed displaced relatives and friends.
Mr. Dowling was a fan of the Cincinnati Reds, the University of Kentucky Wildcats, and thoroughbred horse racing. He enjoyed travel—especially road trips. He frequented the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Bardstown, KY and he made many pilgrimages to Ireland. He also visited the Holy Land. Mr. Dowling was a citizen of both the United States and Ireland. After one of his trips to Ireland, he returned home with his first of several Irish Setters, named “Monruad Mazurka.” This was the beginning of his lifelong affection for the breed.
Michael R. Dowling was a member of the Boyd County Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association, the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, the Society of the Holy Name, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Elks Lodge, and the Knights of Columbus. He is predeceased by his brother, James Joseph Dowling, and his sister, Marcia Dowling Mabley. Michael is survived by his niece, Frances L. Mabley of Ashland; his nephew, James Michael Mabley of Ashland; his great-niece Rachel E. Hannah Persson (Karl, their children Stellan & Ingrid) of Park City, UT; and his Riffe and Gallion cousins, here and abroad.
The family extends a sincere thank you to many friends and family, especially to the Gallions for their considerable kindness to Michael. Michael Ross Dowling was fiercely loved and enormously valued. His departure has left an ache in our hearts that will never heal. He was the best of us. Until we meet again, Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Friends and family are invited to call, Saturday, January 6th, 2024, to Holy Family Church from 10am-11am. A Mass of Christian burial will begin at 11am by V. Rev. D. Andrew Garner, KHS. A luncheon will follow the Mass in the undercroft of the Church. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church at 900 Winchester Ave Ashland, Ky 41101. Lazear Funeral Home is both honored and privileged to have been entrusted with the care of Mr. Dowling.