Donald Downing

Donald “Donny” Downing, 86, of Orient, passed away Sunday, July 25, 2021, at EveryStep Hospice House. Memorial services are 3 p.m. Aug. 3, 2021, at Pearson Family Funeral Service and Cremation Center in Creston. Family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. before the service. A private interment will be in the Greenfield Cemetery.

Donald Lester Downing, the son of Earl Daniel and Cammie Marie (LeCocq) Downing, was born Dec. 14, 1934, in rural Union County, the youngest of their four children. Donny started school at Zion Consolidated Schools and graduated from Orient High School in 1953, where he participated and excelled in multiple sports.

On Sept. 23, 1956, Donny married his high school sweetheart, Sharen Irene Felker. To this loving union, two sons were born: Mark Earl and Curtis George.

After his graduation, Donny had began his lifelong career as a farmer, and Sharen, growing up on a farm too, joined in after their marriage. They eventually settled in Adair County, raising crops, livestock and their family. He further expanded his involvement in farming by owning and operating Orient Fertilizer.

From a young child, Donny always had a deep love for horses. This love lead him to breeding, raising and racing thoroughbred horses. He loved watching his horses run and rarely missed their races, no matter where they ran.

Having always enjoyed the outdoors, Donny instilled this love of hunting and fishing in his boys, grandsons and great-grandkids. Loving sports, he was always there supporting his kids in their athletic endeavors, and as an athlete himself, he continued pitching fast pitch softball for the Orient Merchants for many years. He was always there for his family in whatever they were doing, encouraging them to work hard, do their best and was so proud of their accomplishments.

Through the years, Donny was an active member of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Orient, served on the Adair County School Board (prior to the start of the A.E.A), was Past Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge in Orient, as well as the vice president of the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association.

Married for almost 65 years to his loving wife, Sharen, Donny is survived by his spouse, two sons Mark (Sandy) Downing and Curtis (Michelle) Downing; two grandsons Matthew (Sheryl) Downing and Adam (Heather) Downing; three great-grandchildren: Mikaela, Chasse, and Chloe. Donny is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, John and Betty Downing; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Karen and Rex Hight; several nieces, nephews and other relatives that he loved dearly.

Donny was preceded in death by brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Berniece Downing; sister and brother-in-law, Mildred and Earl Woods; his parents; in-laws, George and Irene Felker.

Thank you all for being a part of Donny’s life. We will all miss him and be thankful for the role he played in our lives. In closing, we want to share what Donny would often say when we were going home, “Glad you got to see me.”