Mary Adelia Downs

Mary was born in Primghar, Iowa on October 1, 1936 to Loretta and Leo DeMars. They later lived in many different towns in the states of Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado and North Dakota before settling into Lincoln, Nebraska where Mary found her love of the University of Nebraska Cornhusker’s, especially their football team.

Mary loved her time at the University of Nebraska where she was a Regent Scholar. She was a member of Sigma Kappa where she was the scholarship chairman, rush chairman and vice-president. She was on the Farmer’s Fair Board, a coed counselor and was the president of Gamma Sigma Phi, the advertising professional fraternity.

She graduated from the University of Nebraska with a double major in Journalism and Home Economics. After graduation, she worked for a time in Minneapolis for Pillsbury in their test kitchen.

It was at the University of Nebraska where she met the love of her life, Joseph and they were married on January 16, 1960. Joseph was employed by the United States Soil Conservation Service and Joseph, Mary and their children were stationed in many different towns in the states of Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Utah.

When Mary and Joseph started their family, she stayed home to raise their three daughters, but was very active in the community. She served as President for Beta Sigma Phi, PanHellenic, Sigma Kappa, Girl Scouts and was a 4-H leader.

Mary went back to work when her youngest daughter was in high school. She was an avid reader, usually reading several books a week, so it was no surprise when she became the school librarian at Twin Peaks Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah. This combined her love of books with her love of information and most of all, children.

In 1990 Joseph retired and the two moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. Between trips to the Casino’s to collect their points, they were constantly traveling. Mary missed her calling as a travel agent and loved to plan the next trip they would go on. Until the past few years, they would go on at least two “big” trips a year, usually a river cruise or repositioning cruise which resulted in them visiting numerous cities and countries and all seven continents.

Mary leaves behind her husband, Joseph, her daughters Kathleen Downs Ellison (Dan) of Ventura, California, Patricia Downs of Henderson, Nevada and Nancy Downs Gunn (Chris) of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin; three grandchildren, Michael Ellison, Steven Ellison and Katherine Downs; her brother Jim DeMars (Barb), brother-in-law George (Nanci), Nieces and Nephews: Mark DeMars, Amy DeMars, Cheryl Johnson, Michelle Benda (Butch), Wendy Merritt (Ken), Karen Peterson (Jim), Diane Foley (Kevin), Linda Kennedy (Ron), Mike Burianek (Kathleen), and Jan Scott (Randy). She is preceded in death by her parents, her children William and Loretta, John Downs, Peggy Burianek, Marv Burianek, Anna Downs as well as her parents and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A mass will be held on April 23, 2018 at St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church in Henderson with interment at Nevada Veteran’s Cemetery.