Mary E. Downing

Mary E. Downing, 91, died on March 31, 2022, at Peabody Health and Rehab in Peabody.

She was born on April 16, 1930, in Peach Orchard, Ark., the daughter of Henry Howard and Virland Mae (Denton) Martin.

Mary attended services at several Baptist congregations and the Scott City Latter Day Saints Church. Mary was a dietician for many years in Lane County, cooking in both Healy and Dighton for the hospital, and in Wichita at Wesley Medical Center. She operated her own restaurant, Mary’s Point, in addition to owning and operating Hotel Dighton for over 30 years.

On January 25, 1947, she married J.W. Scott in Randolph County, Ark. He passed away on Sept. 4, 1995. On May 16, 1973, she married Paul B. Downing in Charleston, S.C. He passed away on March 13, 1983.

Survivors include a daughter, Virgea Smith and husband, Mike, Hugoton; daughters-in-law, Judy Scott, Dighton, and Carol Scott, Andover; sisters, Bonnie Ivy, Pocahontas, Ark., and Beulah Sparks, Jonesboro, Ark.; nine grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 34 great-great-grandchildren, and five great-great-great-grandchildren.

Mary was also preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Zella Mae White, Fonda Pearl Martin, Loretta Fern Martin and Theida Vondaline Young; four brothers, Clifford Oscar, Jesse Monroe, Clyde “Donnie” Donald and Tonice “Teddy” Theodore Martin; sons James Scott and Rickie Scott; a grandchild, Denise Smith Bartel; a great-grandchild, Braxton Bice; and a great-great-grandchild, Scarlett Bauer.

Funeral service was April 4, 2022, at Price and Sons Funeral Home, Scott City.

Interment was at the Healy Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association in care of Price and Sons Funeral Homes, Box 553, Scott City, Ks. 67871.