Thelma “Clarice” (Anderson) Downey, 87, of Cumming, Georgia, passed away on Thursday, June 15, 2023. Born on July 11, 1935, in Nashville, Tennessee, she was the daughter of the late Clarence and Sarah (Brown) Anderson. Clarice’s father and husband were both in the Army, so she lived in many places, including Tennessee, Arizona, California, Kansas, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and most notably, a year in Thailand. After her husband, Col John “Jack” Downey, retired from the Army, they owned Downey’s Downtown Printing in Atlanta for 12 years, before officially selling the business and living their retirement dreams on their yacht for five years. Clarice was a very loving and proud Mom and Grandma. She was a vicarious reader, reading several novels a week, had a life-long love of dogs, and had a very generous, humorous, and caring heart that shone through on the hardest days.
She is survived by her daughter, Tina (Fernando) Perez; grandsons, Dominic, Benjamin, and Anderson Perez; sister, Ida Jo Rutherford; nephew, Ron (Rosanne Marie) Rutherford; sister-in-law, Ann Fordeck and children; brother-in-law, Joseph (Mary Lou) Downey and children. She was also preceded in death by her husband of more than 46 years, Jack Downey, in 2011; son, Paul Downey; and beloved grandmother, Eula K. Brown.
Graveside services will be 10:00am, Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Riverview Cemetery, 11428 Carroll Road, Churubusco. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given to the American Heart Association. Arrangements have been entrusted to D.O. McComb and Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Ave, Fort Wayne. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Downey family at www.mccombandsons.com
