Obituary of Evelyn Mae Downing

Evelyn Mae Downing, 88 of 1020 S. Scott Blvd., Iowa City and formerly of Rock Island, Illinois died Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at her home. Services to celebrate Evelyn's life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 11, 2008, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with the Reverend John Raab officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 5pm Sunday at the funeral home. Private family graveside services will be held later at the Rock Island National Cemetery where Evelyn's husband, John is buried. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her memory to the First United Methodist Church or Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Evelyn was born December 17, 1919, in Moline, Illinois the daughter of John Henry and Frances (Bicknel) Dohrn. Following graduation from Moline High School, she attended business college. On November 21, 1940, she was united in marriage to John Raymond Downing in Moline. Evelyn started in retail sales at the College Shop in Moline, she later joined Younkers part-time and later full time becoming the first female store manager in store's history. She was at the Rock Island Store until she moved to the South Park Mall Store where she retired in 1985. She enjoyed needlepoint and knitting, feeding her pet ducks at Legacy Gardens in Iowa City, and was most grateful for her many friends there. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Moline, and had attended First United Methodist Church in Iowa City since moving here in 2000 from Rock Island. Her family includes her son, and his wife, Dave and Jane Downing of Lake Orion, Michigan; sister, Lucille Haller of California; nieces and nephews, Steve Haller, Jeff Young and his wife, Linda, Gloria Hamlin and Linda Young; brother-in-law and his wife, Bob and Reita Downing of Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, John in 1991, and a sister, Berniece.