She was born Nov. 22, 1918, in Manhattan, the daughter of James Charles and Edna (Carlton) Murphy. She attended Kansas State University and earned her bachelor of arts degree from Washburn University. She moved to Lawrence in 1996 from Wentworth, Mo.

Mrs. Downer was a homemaker and taught third grade at Rochester Elementary School in Topeka from 1959 to 1961. She had also been a field director for Girl Scouts of America in Springfield, Mo. She volunteered with Topeka Kaw Valley Girl Scouts Camp Council and Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Care Center Auxiliary.

She married E. Merrill Downer on Nov. 16, 1940, in Emporia. He died in October 1998.

Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Downer Vernon, Wellington, Fla.; a son, William Merrill Downer, Greenville, Pa.; a half brother, Terry Murphy, Minneapolis; two half sisters, Margaret Murphy and Kathryn Murphy, both of Topeka; and five grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to Kaw Valley Girl Scout Council, sent in care of the mortuary.

E-mail condolences may be sent to info@warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Downer.