Alma
Alma Downie
d. October 31, 2017
Alma Lee (Charlton) Downie, age 87, of Marvell, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, October 28, 2017 surrounded by family. She was born and raised in the close knit community of Trenton, Arkansas to the late Earnest C. and Minnie (Burk) Charlton, where friends were like family and family members were like friends. She was very active in her community and some of her favorite memories were made while performing different roles in community plays in her younger years at Trenton.
As a teenager, she enjoyed working at the well-known Habib’s Bakery/Restaurant in Helena, Arkansas. She also became a skilled seamstress and she put those skills to work at Bobbie Brooks Garment Factory and Skyway Luggage. In her mid-twenties, she moved to Imperial Beach California where she met and married the love of her life, the late Bruce Karsten Downie. Bruce worked his way through the ranks of the United States Navy to become a Chief Petty Officer. Alma and Bruce raised their family and made their home in Chula Vista, California for more than 25 years. Upon Bruce’s retirement as a highly decorated U.S. Navy Veteran, they returned to Marvell, Arkansas to be close to family and friends in the community where Alma was raised.
Alma was a faithful Christian and grew up attending Trenton Baptist Church. She strived to put God first in her life. Her family was everything to her, and her entire life was a reflection of her loving, caring, supporting, and enjoying her family. Each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren walked through every day knowing that she was there waiting for their call.
It is the earnest wish of her family to honor her legacy and to take comfort in knowing that her love lives on in each family member and friend.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Bruce, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Joyce McKay, two grandchildren, Jimmy and Jonny Slater, and her sister and brother-in-law, Lavern Charlton Patton and Roy Patton, and siblings E.C. (Junior) Charlton and Virginia Charlton Jones.
She is lovingly survived by two daughters, Andrea Downie Ray and husband, Scott, and Sue Pearrow Lester; four grandchildren, Kasey McKay Erwin and husband, Ray, Sami Rogers and husband, James, Erica Smith, and Tanner Ray; nine great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; one brother, Cecil Charlton and wife, Sandy; other relatives and frien
A celebration of life is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 10, 2017 at Trenton Baptist Church, 4327 Highway 316 South, Poplar Grove, AR with Bro. Mike Shelley officiating.
In addition to flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trenton Baptist Church, P.O. Box 515, Marvell, Arkansas 72366.
Floral arrangements may be made through Mrs. Doris Crisp at The Blossom Shop in Helena, Arkansas (870) 572-3790.
As a teenager, she enjoyed working at the well-known Habib’s Bakery/Restaurant in Helena, Arkansas. She also became a skilled seamstress and she put those skills to work at Bobbie Brooks Garment Factory and Skyway Luggage. In her mid-twenties, she moved to Imperial Beach California where she met and married the love of her life, the late Bruce Karsten Downie. Bruce worked his way through the ranks of the United States Navy to become a Chief Petty Officer. Alma and Bruce raised their family and made their home in Chula Vista, California for more than 25 years. Upon Bruce’s retirement as a highly decorated U.S. Navy Veteran, they returned to Marvell, Arkansas to be close to family and friends in the community where Alma was raised.
Alma was a faithful Christian and grew up attending Trenton Baptist Church. She strived to put God first in her life. Her family was everything to her, and her entire life was a reflection of her loving, caring, supporting, and enjoying her family. Each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren walked through every day knowing that she was there waiting for their call.
It is the earnest wish of her family to honor her legacy and to take comfort in knowing that her love lives on in each family member and friend.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Bruce, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Joyce McKay, two grandchildren, Jimmy and Jonny Slater, and her sister and brother-in-law, Lavern Charlton Patton and Roy Patton, and siblings E.C. (Junior) Charlton and Virginia Charlton Jones.
She is lovingly survived by two daughters, Andrea Downie Ray and husband, Scott, and Sue Pearrow Lester; four grandchildren, Kasey McKay Erwin and husband, Ray, Sami Rogers and husband, James, Erica Smith, and Tanner Ray; nine great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; one brother, Cecil Charlton and wife, Sandy; other relatives and frien
A celebration of life is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 10, 2017 at Trenton Baptist Church, 4327 Highway 316 South, Poplar Grove, AR with Bro. Mike Shelley officiating.
In addition to flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trenton Baptist Church, P.O. Box 515, Marvell, Arkansas 72366.
Floral arrangements may be made through Mrs. Doris Crisp at The Blossom Shop in Helena, Arkansas (870) 572-3790.
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To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alma Downie, please visit our flower store.
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