Downer, Norma Gay 1917-1961

DOWNER, VAN BOGART, JONES

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/1/2010 at 10:05:40

Newspaper dated Feb. 6, 1961

FUNERAL SERVICES HELD TODAY FOR MRS. ROBT. DOWNER

Mrs. Norma Gay Downer, 43, wife of Robert R. Downer of Grinnell, died Friday evening at a local hospital following an illness of several years.

Funeral services were held this afternoon (Monday) from the Smith Funeral Home with Dr.G.S. Bruland, pastor of the Grinnell Methodist church, officiating. Organ music was furnished by Mrs. Kathleen Heffner.

Serving as pallbearers were Leo Ahrens, Sheldon Ahrens, Bill Dimit, Floyd Postma, Bob Stawser, and Max Todd. Interment was in Greenwood cemetery at Muscatine.

Born in Grinnell on July 7th, 1917, she was the daughter of William Henry and Maude Van Bogart Jones. She attended the local public schools and Grinnell high school.

On Aug. 20th, 1942, she was united in marriage with Robert R. Downer at the Little Brown church at Nashua by the Rev. B.F. Hanscom. Mrs. Downer had made her home in the Grinnell area all of her life except for four years spent on a farm near Muscatine.

Surviviors include her husband and her son, William Ray, both at the family home. Also surviving are her mother and brother, Mrs. William H. Jones and Virgil D. Jones, both of Grinnell.

She was preceded in death by her father on April 25th, 1951.

Mrs. Downer was a member of the Grinnell Methodist church and the W.S.C.S. She had been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.