Obituary of Doris Eileen Downing

Doris Eileen Downing Funeral services for Doris Downing of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at the Auburn Presbyterian Church near Silex, MO. Rev. Murray Phillips, church pastor, will officiate with burial in Auburn Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Alan Shero II, Charlie Ledgerwood, Kyle Haynes, Fabrizio Mora, Brian Fowler and John Simmons. Mrs. Downing, 85, died Friday evening, August 22, 2008 at her home near Elsberry. Born March 13, 1923 in Elsberry, she was the daughter of Oscar and Kate Kreig Hobbs. She was the Salutatorian of the Elsberry High School Class of 1942. She was united in marriage on August 14, 1943 in St. Charles, MO to Louie B Downing. This union was blessed with nine children: Virginia, Becky, Rita, Nancy, Judy, Jean, Brent, David and Dan. The Downing family was active in the Busy Bees 4-H Club (New Hope) and the Auburn 4-H Club, with Mrs. Downing serving as a leader for many years. She was employed for 14 years as a cook at the Lincoln County R-2 Schools in Elsberry. She was active for a number of years with the Elsberry Alumni Association. Always interested in literacy, Mrs. Downing was involved with the children's reading program in the Clarence Cannon Elementary School. She was a faithful member and served as Elder of the Auburn Presbyterian Church, where she was active in the Auburn Presbyterian Women's Circle. She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Kate Hobbs; two brothers: Taylor Hobbs and B.T. Hobbs; and two sisters: Winona Taylor and Barbara Brown. Survivors include her beloved husband of 65 years, L.B Downing of Elsberry; three sons: Brent Downing and his wife, Delia, of Washingtonville, NY, David Downing of Columbia, MO, and Dan Downing and his wife, Cindy, of Hartsburg, MO; six daughters: Virginia Warchol of Casa Grande, AZ, Becky Ledgerwood and her husband, Charles, of Sedalia, MO, Rita Shero and her husband, Alan, of Athens, AL, Nancy Fansher and her husband, Jim, of Trimble, MO, Judy Collins and her husband, Bob, of Elsberry, and Jean Gomez and her husband, Johnny, of Casa Grande, AZ; eight grandchildren, one Foster grandchild and one great-grandchild. She also leaves two sisters: Margaret Fisher of Elsberry, and Norma Brownfield of Blackjack, MO; one brother-inlaw, Andy J. Brown of St. Louis, MO; one sister-in-law, Rita Fowler of Indianapolis, IN; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, August 25, 2008 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Janelle Downing Memorial 4-H Scholarship, the Auburn Presbyterian Church, the Elsberry Alumni Association Scholarship Fund or Community Loving Care Hospice in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.