1928
Bertha
2014
Bertha Downing
June 29, 1928 — January 22, 2014
Bertha M. Downing was born June 29, 1928 at Renfro, the daughter of Elmer and Lizzie Clark McClaflin and departed this life on January 22, 2014. Bertha lived her lifetime in Grant County where she graduated from Medford High School. She then spent some time in Bethany Peniel College and came home to marry Jack Downing. She was a homemaker with a servant’s heart who cared for her husband, children, grandchildren and many others. Her working career was spent at Downing’s Massey Ferguson in the parts and bookkeeping departments. She was very accomplished at helping people with needed parts. People came from miles around because she was so good and always knew what they needed. She was fondly called “Bert” by the people who came to experience her expertise in the parts department. Bertha ran the Country Inn Restaurant and had also worked at Longbells. In her early years, she was a Quaker then became a member of the Nazarene Church. She was very active in Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Bertha and Jack traveled many years with good friends spending time in Corpus Christi where they fished. Being a spirited woman, she drove the motor home in her eighties. She loved having coffee with friends, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards and scrabble with her mother and sisters.
Bertha was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her parents, Elmer and Lizzie McClaflin; one grandson, Michael; two brothers, Gene and Dale McClaflin.
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Those who will cherish her memory are her children: Bill Downing and wife, Marilyn, Steve Downing and wife, Linda, Jackie Downing, Kevin Downing and wife, Mary; grandchildren, Billy and April Downing, Debra Downing, Susan and Mark Branch, Kurt and Tiffany Downing, Jeremy Downing, Alyssa and Andy Beck, Lizzie and Aaron Bruns, Aaron Downing, Kellen Downing, Harley Downing, Sydney Downing, Hayden Downing and Piper Downing; fifteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lawanda Allison and Alice Allen.
Celebration of life service for Bertha Downing will be Monday, January 27, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Medford Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Kathy Wheeler officiating. Viewing will be Sunday, January 26, 2014 at the funeral home 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with family present 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Burial will be in Rosemound Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the church through the funeral home.
Bertha was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her parents, Elmer and Lizzie McClaflin; one grandson, Michael; two brothers, Gene and Dale McClaflin.
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Those who will cherish her memory are her children: Bill Downing and wife, Marilyn, Steve Downing and wife, Linda, Jackie Downing, Kevin Downing and wife, Mary; grandchildren, Billy and April Downing, Debra Downing, Susan and Mark Branch, Kurt and Tiffany Downing, Jeremy Downing, Alyssa and Andy Beck, Lizzie and Aaron Bruns, Aaron Downing, Kellen Downing, Harley Downing, Sydney Downing, Hayden Downing and Piper Downing; fifteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lawanda Allison and Alice Allen.
Celebration of life service for Bertha Downing will be Monday, January 27, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Medford Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Kathy Wheeler officiating. Viewing will be Sunday, January 26, 2014 at the funeral home 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with family present 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Burial will be in Rosemound Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the church through the funeral home.
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