Joe Downen, age 74, passed away April 29, 2020, at Bolivar General Hospital.
He was born on Tuesday, July 24, 1945 in Hardeman County to the late Robert Ellis Downen, Sr. and Cuba Lipford Downen. A life-long resident of the county, he was a 1963 graduate of Middleton High School and went on to serve in the Tennessee National Guard from 1963-68. Joe married the former Sadie Lou Doyle on Saturday, January 30, 1965 and together, they enjoyed over 55 years of married life. Mr. Downen was a custom cab assembler with Thyssen-Krupp (formerly known as Dover) Elevators in Middleton where he worked for over 40 years retiring in 2010. He and Mrs. Downen attended Trinity Baptist Church in Bolivar.
Mr. Downen was a member of the Bolivar Masonic Lodge #608 and enjoyed singing and playing country music throughout the area for over 50 years. Joe was passionate when it came to anything having to do with outdoor activity and spent many hours caring for his lawn, gardening and fishing. A lifetime fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, he could often be found spending time attending his grandchildren’s ball games. At family gatherings, Joe would love to have fun and the infectious nature of his laughing would bring joy and laughter to all. He was a committed family man who loved his children, grandchildren and siblings, but especially his cherished wife, Sadie.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughter, Kim Blackard (Bobby) of Bolivar; two sons, Russell L. Downen (Rhonda) of Jackson and Mike Downen (Laura) of Medon; one sister, Jerry Trainum (Jimmy) of Middleton; two brothers, Robert E. Downen, Jr. (Edna) of Middleton and Leon Downen (Ann) of Hernando, MS; twelve grandchildren, Christopher Downen, Alaina Claire Downen, Josh McQueen (April), Thomas Downen (Sarah), Dillan McQueen, Sydney Downen, Mackenzie Decker (Jeremy), Gregory Diffee (Lauren), Grayson Diffee, Brianna Blackard, Bradley Agee and Christopher Agee; and six great-grandchildren, Danica McQueen, Colby McQueen, Jace Decker, E. B. Waycaster, Nyah House and “one on the way” in August.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by daughter, Tracy Jean Downen; five sisters, Mary Lou Byrd, Esther Roberts, Bessie Jeter, Earlene Smith and Eldva Pope; and six brothers, Hugh, Douglas, Wallace and Bill Downen, Nathan Earnest and Lemuel Franklin Earnest.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Heart Association (http://www.heart.org) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (http://www.stjude.org).
