Martha

Downing

Martha "Jean" Downing, 81, of Warrensburg, went to heaven on July 14, 2011. She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jean was born on January 20, 1930, to Ruby Gladys Scott Watterson and Gilbert Henry Watterson at their home southeast of Warrensburg. She was the second of nine children. Growing up, she helped her father with milking dairy cows and acquired a love of animals, farming and gardening that lasted all of her life. She grew up in the Holden and Leeton communities and played basketball for Holden High School. In 1948 Jean graduated from Leeton High School and moved to Kansas City where she shared an apartment with her sister and worked as a secretary for Lindy Airline Corporation. In 1954, while visiting her Aunt and Uncle, she met Earl Downing at the Fayetteville Store just north of Warrensburg, where he worked. They were married later that year and she moved to the Robbins community to begin a life of farming with him. They were the parents of three daughters and later divorced. Jean was a farmer. She loved taking care of the livestock, particularly the furrowing sows and heifers. One of the highlights of her farming career was when one of her cows had twin calves. She raised a huge garden every year and enjoyed canning the vegetables. Every Sunday she would cook a big meal of fried chicken or ham with mashed potatoes and all the trimmings for family and friends who would come to visit. She was known for her wonderful cooking, especially her mouth-watering chocolate meringue pie. But more than anything, Jean loved her family. Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joy. Jean was a member of the Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Robbins. She is survived by her daughters, Sharon (Bill) Ousley, with whom she resided the last several years, Debra Branson and Brenda (Dan) Weigand, all of Warrensburg. She had twelve grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. She had a great love of birds, especially bluebirds, and was fondly called "Grandma Birdie" by all of her grandchildren and many of the nurses who cared for her through the years. She is also survived by her sisters, Mary Vivian (Fred) Johnson and Carol Elizabeth Watterson, both of Warrensburg, a sister-in-law, Shirley Watterson of Kingsville; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Laura May Walton, Leslie Watterson, Patsy Frazier, Larry Dale Watterson, Judith Cortez, Byrl Watterson and infants Glen Gilbert and Lawrence Stillwell Watterson. Also preceding her in death were two sons-in-law, Ronald Gene Owens and Ronald Lee Branson. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 20, at 9:00 am at Williams Funeral Home in Warrensburg. Funeral services will follow at 10:00 am. with Jeff Kenee of Johnson County Hospice officiating. Burial will be in Pisgah Cemetery. Pallbearers are grandsons Dean Wille, Cody Smith, Chad Shippy, Clint Weigand, Chad Weigand and great-grandson Sean Burns. Honorary pallbearers are the remaining grandchildren and great grandchildren along with Charlotte McClellen and Carol Clapper, two of her Golden Girls. Special appreciation is expressed to the nurses of Manor Care Center and Johnson County Hospice for their loving care during her illness. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to the Crest Ridge FFA chapter, an organization dear to Jean's heart. Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net