Mary Louise Downing

Mrs. Downing died Thursday, March 21, 2002, at Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan.

She was born Oct. 4, 1912, in Leavenworth, the daughter of Michael E. and Mary Johanna (Wenzel) Kelly. She graduated from Tonganoxie High School in 1929.

She was a beautician for 60 years and owned a shop in Basehor.

Mrs. Downing was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church and its Altar Society. She also belonged to the Basehor Chamber of Commerce.

She married Milton M. Downing on April 20, 1938, in Kansas City, Mo. He died Aug. 28, 1988.

Survivors include a son, Bernard, Wichita; two daughters, Joanne Aaron, Leavenworth, and Loretta Kirchhofer, Wakarusa; two sisters, Ruth Sigman and Gladys McDermott, both of Shawnee; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A son, Mike Downing, died earlier.

Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Quisenberry Funeral Home, Tonganoxie, where a rosary service will be conducted at 7 p.m.