Maxine M. Downs

Maxine M. Downs, 79, of Sioux City passed away on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Touch Stone Living Center following a brief illness. Funeral services for Maxine will be on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Floyd E. Brown officiating. Burial will be in the Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday with family present from 5-7 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Maxine Mixon Downs was born May 17, 1932, in Pine Bluff, Ark., to the union of the late Nathan Mixon Jr. and Bertha Mixon. On Feb. 17, 1949, Maxine was united in holy matrimony with Arthur Downs Sr. in Pine Bluff. She was employed in the health care field for more than 50 years. She was employed with Cummings Nursing Home, Tommy Dale Children's Center and Matney's Westside Manor. For more than 57 years, she was a member of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Maxine leaves to cherish her memories her husband of 62 years, Arthur Downs Sr.; five devoted sons, Tommy Downs of Omaha, Arthur Downs Jr. of Goodyear, Ariz., Derrick and Brett (Dynelle) Downs of Sioux City, and Brian (Beth) Downs of Minneapolis; five devoted daughters, Brenda (Calvin) Fenceroy and Marcia (Stephen) Knox of Dayton, Ohio, Vuanita Downs and Sandra (Dan) Myhre of Minneapolis, and Vanessa Downs of Atlanta, Ga.; a loving sister, Vera (Woodrow) Cain of Milwaukee, Wis.; sisters-in-law, Mary (Raymond) Jones of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Sandy Downs of Sioux City; and a brother-in-law, John (Kim) Downs of Sioux City. She leaves to mourn 22 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews; and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her her father, Nathan Mixon Sr.; her mother, Bertha Cook Mixon; six brothers, Carl, Nathan Jr., Leroy, Macy B., Hardy Lee and William James Mixon; two sisters, Myrtle Walker and Geraldine Hunter; a granddaughter, Angela Faye Ainsely; her father-in-law, Cicero Downs; her mother-in-law, Vessie Downs; a brother-in-law, Thearic Downs; and a sister-in-law, Helen Horton. We, the family, would like to express our sincere thanks to all of you both far and near for your comforting words, prayers and condolences during our hour of bereavement. May God bless and sustain each of you.