Home > United States of America > South Dakota > Hand County > Miller > G A R Cemetery > Mary Alice Speirs Downing

Mary Alice Speirs Downing

Birth	:	6 Oct 1919 Hand County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	14 Aug 2012 Miller, Hand County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	G A R Cemetery, Miller, Hand County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.5078011, -98.9858017
Description	:	Mary-Alice Downing, 92, of Miller, passed away Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Society, Miller. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 17, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church, Miller with Pastor Mark Johnsen officiating. Burial will follow in G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller. Mary-Alice was born October 6, 1919 to Ralph and Edith Belle (Leadbetter) Speirs on the "Prairie Home" farm located near Ree Heights which was owned by Ralph's parents, John and Mary Speirs. Mary-Alice attended grade school in Ree Heights and St. Lawrence. In 1938, she graduated from Miller High School. Upon her graduation, she... Read More	Mary-Alice Downing, 92, of Miller, passed away Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Society, Miller. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 17, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church, Miller with Pastor Mark Johnsen officiating. Burial will follow in G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller. Mary-Alice was born October 6, 1919 to Ralph and Edith Belle (Leadbetter) Speirs on the "Prairie Home" farm located near Ree Heights which was owned by Ralph's parents, John and Mary Speirs. Mary-Alice attended grade school in Ree Heights and St. Lawrence. In 1938, she graduated from Miller High School. Upon her graduation, she attended Methodist Hospital Nursing program in Mitchell. "World War II came along and changed all sorts of plans." After completing two years of training, Mary-Alice eloped on August 24 1940 and married Donald Everett Downing in Aberdeen, SD. Mary-Alice and Donald farmed near Orient and later purchased land in Holden Township north of St. Lawrence. As a farm wife she loved to bake. Her fresh cinnamon rolls were a favorite after school snack for her children. Her baking and decorating skills turned into a business making specialty cakes for Hand County residents. Mary-Alice often gave the wedding cake as a gift to her nieces and nephews. Mary-Alice had a passion for making pretty clothes. It was evident when she sewed for her five children. Her children wore many outfits lovingly sewed by their mother. When one visited Mrs. Downing's Barbie Doll Clothing Shop, her passion for pretty dresses was evident. The pretty petite clothes brought joy to many area children who purchased the clothing for as little as a quarter. The shop burned down just before Christmas of 1966. In 1967, Mary-Alice and Donald purchased the Laundromat in Miller. The Laundromat brought about another opportunity to learn and grow. Mary-Alice began repairing sewing machines and mending as well as helping make repairs to the washers, dryers and water softeners. As a part of the business, she began picking up dirty laundry and later delivering baskets of freshly laundered clothing for resident in Miller – especially shut ins. Mary-Alice continued in her enterprising ways and began purchasing one and two bedroom houses in Miller. She would fix them up, furnish the houses, and turn them into houses for those who needed them. In 1994, she sold the Laundromat, began selling the homes and apartment buildings she acquired over the years and "retired". Mary-Alice enjoyed playing cards and dancing at the Miller Senior Center. She will be remembered as a kind and loving woman who enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren and as well as a pioneering business woman. She is survived by her five children: Mary (Donald) Hague of Box Elder, Jean (Harlan) Gortmaker of St. Lawrence, Terry (Jean) Downing of Redfield, Glenda (Robert) Blom of Madison, and Joey (Erlinda) Downing of the Philippines; 20 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; three sisters: Blanche McClellon of Pennsylvania, Dorothy (Leonard) Fawcett of Ree Heights, and Harriet Kopplin of Miller; and two brothers: Willis (Audrey) Speirs of New Jersey and Keith Speirs of Miller. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald in 1990; three children: Fred Ralph and twins, Donald and Donna; four brothers: Waldo, Leonard "Lefty", Glen and Kenneth; two sisters: Delila and Florence; and one granddaughter, Angel. Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Mary-Alice's arrangements. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Mary Alice Speirs Downing's memorial?
Mary Alice Speirs Downing's memorial is located at: G A R Cemetery, Miller, Hand County, USA.
When did Mary Alice Speirs Downing death?
Mary Alice Speirs Downing death on 14 Aug 2012 in Miller, Hand County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Mary Alice Speirs Downing's memorial?
Latitude: 44.5078011
Longitude: -98.9858017

Family Members:

Parent

Ralph Waldo Speirs

(1893 - 1966)

Edith Belle Leadbetter Speirs

(1894 - 1972)

Spouse

Donald Everett Downing

(1912 - 1990)

Siblings

Waldo Arthur Speirs

(1918 - 1956)

Florence L. Speirs Phillips

(1925 - 2007)

Kenneth Lee Speirs

(1929 - 1988)

Keith Eugene Speirs

(1930 - 2015)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. G A R Cemetery
Miller, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5078011, -98.9858017

2. Hillcrest Cemetery
Miller, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5207000, -99.0006100

3. Saint Ann's Cemetery
Miller, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5222015, -98.9732971

4. Saint Lawrence Cemetery
Saint Lawrence, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5292015, -98.9321976

5. Morningside Cemetery
Ree Heights, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5147018, -99.1903000

6. Beulah Cemetery
Vayland, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6060982, -98.8060989

7. Alden Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6775017, -99.1203003

8. Sunbeam Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6777992, -98.8407974

9. Wessington Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4569016, -98.7102966

10. Saint Josephs Catholic Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4574400, -98.7100400

11. Burdette Cemetery
Burdette, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7002983, -98.7869034

12. McCord Cemetery
Wessington, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3998500, -98.6673100

13. Rosehill Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2980995, -98.7731018

14. Howell Cemetery
Miller, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7757988, -98.9766998

15. Buffalo Cemetery
Spink County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6918983, -98.6853027

16. Cedar Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2775002, -99.2238998

17. Mount Calvary Cemetery
Polo, Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7827988, -99.1097031

18. Sand Creek Cemetery
Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3055800, -98.6791200

19. Ebenezer Baptist Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2106018, -98.9056015

20. Mondamin Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2158012, -99.1238022

21. Highmore Cemetery
Highmore, Hyde County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5074997, -99.4197006

22. Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery
Highmore, Hyde County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5063800, -99.4214900

23. Saint Johns Cemetery
Tulare, Spink County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7202988, -98.6600037

24. New Zion Cemetery
Hand County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2043991, -98.8206024