Obituary Details

Ethel Downey

(09/03/1900 - 05/28/1983)
Courtesy of The Lusk Herald, 06/30/1983

Ethel Downey

Ethel Downey, 83, a long-time resident of Chadron, Nebr., and the western Nebraska area died in San Jose, Calif. May 28 after a long illness.

Ethel Williams was born Sept. 3, 1900 to C. Sid Williams and Lily (Thomas) at Springfield, Mo. Her parents were early day settlers in the Indian Creek area of northern Sioux County and Ardmore, S. Dak. Her mother died during her early infancy in Missouri. Afterwards, she grew up on her father's ranch and attended elementary and high school in Ardmore.

Ethel married Frank Downey, Armore banker, about 1918. To this union were born two children, Nihla Ann and Gerald.

During her early adult life, while her husband operated as a cattle buyer, she owned and operated the Standard Oil Bulk Dealership in Edgemont, S. Dak. The truck was operated by Jim Downey, Frank's brother. During the same period she and her sister, Martha Williams, operated a confectionary store in Edgemont.

Later, she and Frank operated the Livestock Sale Barn in Lusk.

In 1932, the couple operated the Livestock Sale Barn in Chadron.

During later years she clerked at various Sale Barns in Chadron and surrounding areas. She was also a licensed Real Estate Broker and dealt in buying and remodeling real estate properties.

Her parents and one sister, Martha, preceded her in death. Survivors include a son, Gerald of San Jose, Calif., a daughter, Nihia Ann Hunter of Oakhurst, Calif., two brothers, Floyd Williams, Grand Island, Nebr. and C. Sidney Williams, Jr., Hay Springs, Nebr., two half-sisters, Ila Mullennex, Fresno, Calif. and LaVonne Herning, two half-brothers, Russell Williams, Phoenix, Ariz. and Don R Williams, Oklahoma City, Okla., two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Interment was in San Jose.

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