Jesse Lee Downing 1904-1996

DOWNING, COMSTOCK, STRADLEY, HUMPHREY, LANE

Posted By: Shirley
Date: 11/1/2008 at 21:46:47

Jesse Lee Downing was born March 6, 1904 to Jesse Harmon and Anna Mae Comstock Downing near Orient, Iowa. He passed away February 11, 1996 at the Adair County Memorial Hospital in Greenfield, Iowa at the age of 91 years, 11 months and 5 days.

Lee moved with his family to the Southeastern Kansas area, where he attended rural schools. He was baptized at the United Brethren church. As a young man he and his family moved back to Iowa in the Creston area.

On December 1, 1924 Lee was united in marriage to Velma Faye Stradley. To this union three children were born; Nadean, LeeRay and Don. They spent their married life farming in Ringgold and Adair Counties and retired on their farm near Orient. they moved from the farm to Fontanelle in 1978. Velma passed away in February of 1981.

Lee enjoyed farming and raising horses and especially liked teaching them to do tricks. He liked to go pheasant hunting and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Velma; brothers: Earl, Ray, Cecil, Clyde and Paul; sisters, Ethel, Lena, Alice and Mae; a son LeeRay; and a grandson Bradley

He is survived by his daughter Nadean Humphrey and husband Lester of Tipton, Iowa; a son, Don Downing and wife Joan of Fontanelle; grandchildren; Steven, of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, Roy and wife Beverly of Tipton, Dennis and wife Julie of Panora, Kathleen of Des Moines, Rick and wife Mary of Denver, Colorado, Paul and wife Mary of Bettendorf, Lorraine and husband Alan of Guam, Mark and wife Joannie of Moline, Illinois, Sherilyn of Denver, Colorado and Elizabeth and husband Jon of Conifer, Colorado; fourteen great grandchildren; one great great grandson; his good friend Marie Lane of Greenfield and her family; other relatives and friends.