Born & raised in San Francisco, by Irish Catholic parents who had immigrated to America from Ireland some years earlier, George's father, Captain Michael R.J. Downey, commanded a crew of approximately 11 as Master of the tugboats Defiance and then Navigator, while his wife, Mary Murphy Downey, took care of the house & their 7 or more children.
When a young man(about 1926), George married Fern Christensen from Salt Lake City, Utah. Born on November 21, 1908, she was the daughter of Mormon pioneer descendants, Denis S. Christensen & Della Moore, and although neither George or Fern were very religious, they had all 4 of their children baptized by the Catholic Church.
For many years George & Fern lived in San Pedro where they raised their only daughter(Phyllis) and oldest son(Dennis), while George pursued a career with U.S. Shipping Lines where he was eventually promoted to Superintendent, and actively worked from the comfort of his well furnished personal & private executive office located in the company's huge warehouse at the Port of Los Angeles on Terminal Island.
Around 1947, with the birth of George & Fern's second son(Mike) and third son(Ricky) a year later, the Downey family moved to Long Beach, and settled in to a small 3 bedroom home that George had bought for his growing family that now numbered 4 children(1 daughter & 3 sons) + 2 dogs, a bird, and a few cats(including one named Blacky that got accidentally hit & killed by the next door neighbor's car and was buried, by George, in the backyard on the south side next to the fence behind the garage).
And then at age 51, during the night while sleeping in his bed, George died unexpectedly of a heart attack.
Thanks for your flowers for George.
When a young man(about 1926), George married Fern Christensen from Salt Lake City, Utah. Born on November 21, 1908, she was the daughter of Mormon pioneer descendants, Denis S. Christensen & Della Moore, and although neither George or Fern were very religious, they had all 4 of their children baptized by the Catholic Church.
For many years George & Fern lived in San Pedro where they raised their only daughter(Phyllis) and oldest son(Dennis), while George pursued a career with U.S. Shipping Lines where he was eventually promoted to Superintendent, and actively worked from the comfort of his well furnished personal & private executive office located in the company's huge warehouse at the Port of Los Angeles on Terminal Island.
Around 1947, with the birth of George & Fern's second son(Mike) and third son(Ricky) a year later, the Downey family moved to Long Beach, and settled in to a small 3 bedroom home that George had bought for his growing family that now numbered 4 children(1 daughter & 3 sons) + 2 dogs, a bird, and a few cats(including one named Blacky that got accidentally hit & killed by the next door neighbor's car and was buried, by George, in the backyard on the south side next to the fence behind the garage).
And then at age 51, during the night while sleeping in his bed, George died unexpectedly of a heart attack.
Thanks for your flowers for George.
Born & raised in San Francisco, by Irish Catholic parents who had immigrated to America from Ireland some years earlier, George's father, Captain Michael R.J. Downey, commanded a crew of approximately 11 as Master of the tugboats Defiance and then Navigator, while his wife, Mary Murphy Downey, took care of the house & their 7 or more children.
When a young man(about 1926), George married Fern Christensen from Salt Lake City, Utah. Born on November 21, 1908, she was the daughter of Mormon pioneer descendants, Denis S. Christensen & Della Moore, and although neither George or Fern were very religious, they had all 4 of their children baptized by the Catholic Church.
For many years George & Fern lived in San Pedro where they raised their only daughter(Phyllis) and oldest son(Dennis), while George pursued a career with U.S. Shipping Lines where he was eventually promoted to Superintendent, and actively worked from the comfort of his well furnished personal & private executive office located in the company's huge warehouse at the Port of Los Angeles on Terminal Island.
Around 1947, with the birth of George & Fern's second son(Mike) and third son(Ricky) a year later, the Downey family moved to Long Beach, and settled in to a small 3 bedroom home that George had bought for his growing family that now numbered 4 children(1 daughter & 3 sons) + 2 dogs, a bird, and a few cats(including one named Blacky that got accidentally hit & killed by the next door neighbor's car and was buried, by George, in the backyard on the south side next to the fence behind the garage).
And then at age 51, during the night while sleeping in his bed, George died unexpectedly of a heart attack.
Thanks for your flowers for George.
When a young man(about 1926), George married Fern Christensen from Salt Lake City, Utah. Born on November 21, 1908, she was the daughter of Mormon pioneer descendants, Denis S. Christensen & Della Moore, and although neither George or Fern were very religious, they had all 4 of their children baptized by the Catholic Church.
For many years George & Fern lived in San Pedro where they raised their only daughter(Phyllis) and oldest son(Dennis), while George pursued a career with U.S. Shipping Lines where he was eventually promoted to Superintendent, and actively worked from the comfort of his well furnished personal & private executive office located in the company's huge warehouse at the Port of Los Angeles on Terminal Island.
Around 1947, with the birth of George & Fern's second son(Mike) and third son(Ricky) a year later, the Downey family moved to Long Beach, and settled in to a small 3 bedroom home that George had bought for his growing family that now numbered 4 children(1 daughter & 3 sons) + 2 dogs, a bird, and a few cats(including one named Blacky that got accidentally hit & killed by the next door neighbor's car and was buried, by George, in the backyard on the south side next to the fence behind the garage).
And then at age 51, during the night while sleeping in his bed, George died unexpectedly of a heart attack.
Thanks for your flowers for George.
Inscription
George F. Downey
In Loving Memory
1906 - 1957
Gravesite Details
Flat rectangular marker with the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks emblem centered between the dates.
