Obituary Published in the Nashua Reporter and weekly Nashua Post on July 31, 1935:

Nearly Eighty Years
Funeral Wednesday

In the death of Mrs. Mary Downing another pioneer of this community has passed away. Another link which pinned the past with the future has been broken. Mrs. Downing was more than 80 years of age and most of her life had been spend in our near Nashua, with the exception of 20 years spend near Mason City.

Mary Jones, the daughter of Alexander and Sarah Ann Jones, was born on a farm near Nashua, Iowa, February 18, 1855 and after a very short illness from heart trouble, passed away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mont Cagley, Monday evening, July 22, 1935. Everything that loving hands could do for her was done, but death would not be stayed and her soul went peacefully out to meet its God.

On March 1, 1874, she was united in marriage to John Hall, who died February 15, 1880. To this union one child, Mrs. Gertrude Fisher, was born, with whom she had made her home for the past six years, since leaving her home in Nashua.

In 1882 she was again married, this time to Paul Downing, who preceded her in death January 3, 1918. To this union were born four sons and one daughter, namely Philip; Charles City, Ray and Leo; Mason City, Alex; Reedspot, Oregon, and Mrs. Mae Maillard; Marshfield, Oregon. She also leaves 16 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren, and three sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Martha Kuhns, Mrs. Elmer Barlow, Wesley Jones, and Mrs. S.A. Coates, all living in the vicinity of Nashua.

It is sad when our loved ones pass away, but it is consoling that they will be missed, because this is a true testimony of their worth. The deepest sympathy of the entire community goes out to the children who are mourning the loss of a deeply loved mother whose death leaves in their hearts a void the world can never fill.

Funeral services were held at the Congregational church, on Thursday afternoon, July 25. Rev. J. Harold Fairlie conducting the service. Casket bearers were her six grandsons, Roy Fisher, Roger Downing, Lloyd Fisher, Kenneth Richardson, Russell Downing and Victor Fisher. She was laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery, Nashua.

In memory of the departed mother the survivors leave the following poem.

Oh, dear mother, you have left us, left us,
We'll never see your face again,
You have journed on before us
It has cost us bitter pain
How we miss your voice, dear mother,
As we gather 'round that bed,
Oh that one so kind and loving
Should be numbered with the dead.
And as children, dearest mother,
Not one cruel word we know,
You caressed us with those hands
That now lay silent white with death.
But when one by one we'll answer
To their gentle Lord's command,
Meet us at the gate, dear mother,
And we'll enter hand in hand.