Erma Eugene Downing, 77, died May 28, 1999, at Pioneer Lodge Nursing Home, Coldwater.

She was born Dec. 27, 1921, at Sun City, the daughter of George Melvin and Ethel Beatrice (Ward) Keller. She attended Sun City High School. A lifetime Wilmore area resident, she was a homemaker.

She belonged to Eastern Star No. 24 for 25 years and Sunflower FCE Unit, both at Coldwater, and attended Wilmore Federated Church.

On Feb. 20, 1940, she married James Alonzo Downing at Wilmore. He died April 23, 1995.

Survivors include: a son, James E., Wellington; a daughter, Lois Williams, Coldwater, two brothers, Everett Keller, Greensburg and Ervin Keller, Avant, Okla.; seven sisters, Emma Brock, Woodward, Okla., Esther Potter, Montezuma, Eva Carnagie, Lexington, Okla., Edith Robbins, Medford, Okla., Elveta Keller, Pratt, Elsie Irvin, Greensburg, and Edweena Warford, Hutchinson; six grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Ernest George Keller, two sisters, Etta Keller and Elma Maricle; and a granddaughter, Sherill Lynn Hyatt; a son-in-law, Jimmy Hyatt.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 1, 1999, at Wilmore, with Rev. Kent Little presiding. Burial followed the service in Wilmore Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to the Wilmore Community Center or American Cancer Society, both in care of Hatfield-Prusia Funeral Home, Coldwater.

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