Dorothy Young Downing

Dorothy Young Downing, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away on April 3 in Boston, Massachusetts after a brief illness. She was born to Ardean and Hazel Young on April 12, 1923 in Sherburne, New York. Dorothy attended school in Sherburne and received a Bachelors Degree in Art Education (class of 1944) and later, her Masters Degree from Syracuse University,. She taught art in the New Berlin school system and was a cherished Art teacher in the Sherburne-Earlville school district for many years. Dorothy married Edgar Downing of Scott, NY in July 1945 and had three wonderful children. Edgar's Air Force career took them from New York to Arizona, Nebraska, Puerto Rico, and Washington State. After Edgar left the service, they returned to New York and Dorothy resumed her teaching career. They spent their retirement years at their Skaneateles Lake cottage and North Fort Myers, Florida home. Dorothy enjoyed art, reading, traveling, and feeding flocks of humming birds, creating wonderful things for her family, and growing anything and everything. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. Her loss will be felt by the many students to whom she gave so much as well as her family and friends.

She was predeceased by her brother Harvey Young of Sherburne. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Edgar C. Downing; son Douglas Downing and wife Sandra of Nashua, NH; daughter Donna Deacon and husband Howard of Walpole, MA; son Ross Downing of Renton, WA; granddaughters Melissa Delisle and husband Tom of Grosse Point Woods, MI, Amanda Deacon of Somers, NY, Sonja Downing of Renton, WA, Carrie Ann Downing of Nashua NH; grandson , Jeremy Downing of Renton, WA; great grandson Cameron Downing, Nashua, NH. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on April 8 at the John Wesley United Methodist Church in Falmouth, MA. Memorial donations to support art students may be made to the Dorothy Young Downing Memorial Scholarship Fund at Sherburne-Earlville Central School, 15 School St, Sherburne, NY 13460, Attn. Treasurer. Arrangements by James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home Walpole, MA www.delaneyfuneral.com