MONTOUR-Eleanor Elizabeth Downs, age 83, of Montour, died Saturday, November 22, 2008 at the Carrington Place of Toledo under the care of Iowa River Hospice due to a lengthy illness. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 10:30 AM at the Living Faith United Methodist Church in Tama with Pastor Jerry Avise-Rouse officiating. Interment will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery in Montour. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 25, 2008 from 4-7 PM at the Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Eleanor was born on May 19, 1925, in LeGrand, Iowa, the daughter of Millard and Muriel (Callary) Dillman.
She graduated from the LeGrand Consolidated School District in 1943. She then attended the Thompson Beauty School in Des Moines.
On September 18, 1943, she was united in marriage to Clifford Downs at the Methodist Parsonage in Montour. Eleanor was a cook for the Montour School for many years and worked at the Juvenile Home. She was also a Nutrition Aid for the Tama County Extension Office. She was a member of the Living Faith United Methodist Church and the LeGrand Friends Church. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Eleanor enjoyed playing cards, cooking and visiting with friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents; one daughter, Marsha Lynn Downs; and two infant brothers.
Survivors include her husband, Clifford of Montour; her children, Sonja (Lanny) Hoskey of Tama, David (Shirley) Downs of Toledo, Denise Downs (Robert Stocklose) of Rogers, AR, Tim (Pat) Downs of Tama, and Tom (Deb) Downs of Waterloo; nine grandchildren, Doug and David Wiese, Brian Downs, Mindy Downs Weidner, Cristi Downs, JoLyn Kay Meehan, Kali Downs, Justin and Jason Gochanour; eleven great-grandchildren; one sister, LaVonda Chadwick of Indianola; and one sister-in-law, Ethel (Norman) Hoskey of Chelsea.
A memorial fund has been established.