Loretta Hogan Davis

Loretta H. Downes/Davis at 90, residing in Chicago, was escorted home by St. Michael the Archangel on his feast, 9/29/2025. After a lifetime of service to her family and Christian community she passed peacefully under the attentive care of her daughter Julie Streeter and family. ​

Her Funeral Mass is Mon (10/13) 11:00 a.m. at Church of the Resurrection (1505 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI) with visitation prior to Mass (10:00 a.m.). ​

Visitation also at 3-5:00 p.m. Sunday (10/12) at Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes (900 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI). ​A Rosary service will be held at 4 p.m.

Burial will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Pewamo (Monday at 3:00, corner of N Hubbardston Rd & E Stoney Creek Rd).​

Loretta (aka Laurie) was born Aug. 1, 1935 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was a pianist, guitarist, pilot, author, mentor, loyal friend, energetic community organizer (the constructive kind) and formidable card player. As a tenacious teen with a love of music her piano studies led to her making a record for radio airplay. After graduating from St. Patrick’s High School she pursued a pilot license in order to visit distant friends, flying solo after 8 hrs. of instruction. Airplane escapades included executing 2 emergency landings…one, a river landing, preserved the life of her passenger (setting the standard for Sully). She later married that passenger, William(Bill) Downes, in 1955 and began the adventures of raising a family of 8 children (with their endless pets and critters). Her brush with death prepared her for family camping challenges, long-distance bicycle trips at home & abroad, and life in the jungles of Costa Rica. Years later, an unexpected encounter at a Cedar Rapids high school reunion rekindled a lost friendship that led to her marriage to Larry “Spike” Davis in 2004. The kindness of Larry and the Davis family was a bright spot for the 7 years she shared with “Spike”. Laurie gave generously of her time working in hospice care, Right to Life of Michigan and on the Ingham County Mental Health board. Her personal faith, trust in God and heart for helping people transformed her family and countless others in her “extended” family. We honor her memory with gratitude to our Divine Master for the beautiful gift of Loretta/Mom/Grandma/Great-Grandmother. ​

Family survivors include sisters Nancy Hogan-Baur, Charlotte Hogan and brother Scott Hogan. Children Joseph Downes, Thomas(Susan) Downes, Julie (Darrell) Streeter, David(Julianne) Downes, Anne-Marie(Matthew) Yanoschik, Amy Downes. She added 7 more children via her Iowa family : Terri(Jim) Archibald, Danny Davis, Mike Davis, Patty (Jerry) Greiner, Cathy (Darrell) Piper, Mark (Beth) Davis, and Matt Davis. ​

She was preceded in death by her parents William and Margaret Hogan, brother Steve, sister Carolyn; first husband William Downes, sons Michael Downes and Paul Downes (survived by Debbie and Karen); second husband Lawrence Davis; and granddaughter Margaret Yanoschik.​

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to : Shared Pregnancy Women’s Center, St. Gerard Catholic Church, 4437 W. Willow Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917