Gail Leroy Downing

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Maryville - Gail L. Downing, 73, of Maryville, passed from this life on Sunday, June 24, 2007 at the St. Francis Hospital.

Born on August 14, 1933 in rural Sheridan, MO he was the son of the late William & Eula (Hibbs) Downing.

He graduated from Grant City High School in 1953. He was a Veteran serving in the US Army from 1953 to 1955 and two years in the National Guard. He was a graduate from Moler Barber College in 1956 and operated Downing's Barber Shop for over 50 years till his retirement. He was a member of the Laura Street Baptist Church where he served as a deacon & choir member. His organs were donated to the Midwest Transplant Network.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 49 years whom he married on February 9, 1958 in Maryville, Shirley Sue (Wilkinson) Downing, loving children, Jerry Downing and wife Jolene, Burlington Junction, Gayla Stevens and husband Les, Rochester, MN, Jeanie Harding and husband Kevin, Grant City, sisters, Donna Findley, Albany, MO, Rose Hubbard, Tulsa, OK, brothers, Allen Downing, Copeland, KS and Harold Downing, Grant City, ten grandchildren: Jerod Downing wife Jennifer, Verlena Coston husband Micah, James Downing wife Karamaneh, Valyssa Downing, Blake, Bruce, and Brock Stevens, Emiley, Abbey, and Lucas Harding, and two great-grandchildren: Imajen Downing and Jolyssa Coston. He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers and one sister.

Funeral Services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at the Laura Street Baptist Church, 120 S. Laura Street, Maryville, MO with the Rev. Paul McKim, Officiating. Final Resting Place will be in the Nodaway Memorial Gardens with Military Honors under the auspices of the November Team of the Missouri Military Honors Program.

The family will receive friends at the Danfelt Funeral Home, 951 S. Main Street, Maryville, MO 64468 on Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. Memorial Donations to the Laura Street Baptist Church Building Fund. Friends may call anytime after 10 AM on Tuesday at the funeral home. Online condolences and tribute may be left by visiting www.danfeltfuneralhome.com