Doris Maxine Downs, 81, of White Hall, passed from this life Friday (Dec. 12, 2008) at Fairmont General Hospital. She was born in Fairmont on Sept. 27, 1927, a daughter of the late Hayward L. and Edna Nicholson Murray. Maxine was a member of the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church. She retired as a sales clerk from the Stone and Thomas Department Store in 1999 after 25 years of service and had formerly worked as a sales clerk at Hartley's Department Store until it closed. She was a member of the Friendship Link Class through her church. She enjoyed bird and squirrel watching from her back porch and spending time with her grandchildren. She loved to travel and once took a train to the west coast. Mrs. Downs is survived by her daughter, Lana Jo Pratt of White Hall; her son and daughter-in-law, John L. Downs Jr. and Carol of Grafton; her brother and sister-in-law, James and Gracie Murray of Columbus, Ohio; her brother-in-law, Lawrence Corley of White Hall; three grandchildren, Erin Downs Bashaw and her husband Gary, Adam Pratt and his wife, Kim and Tara Pratt and her husband Bobby Heupp; two great-grandchildren, Kinley Jo Pratt and Bo Heupp; nieces, Sharon Young and husband Richard of Columbia, S.C., Sally Alvarez and husband Terry of Parkersburg, Donna Johnson and husband Jeff of Columbus and Jennifer Murray of Columbus; nephews, Larry Corley and wife Gloria of White Hall, Michael Murray and wife Liz of Columbus and Jeff Murray and wife Susan of Columbus. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, John L. Downs Sr. on Nov. 2, 2004; her son David Downs on Aug. 23, 2004 and her sister Mary Jo Corley. Friends may call at the Frey Home For Funerals (Addition Chapel), 320 Madison St., Fairmont, from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Services will be held in the funeral home at 1 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Terry Alvarez officiating. Interment will follow at the West Virginia National Cemetery.
Published in the Times West Virginian from 12/14/2008 - 12/15/2008