Vera was born on November 23, 1935, in Missouri to Vester and Thelma Smith. She married the love of her life, Billy Ray Downen, on January 14, 1954. She was a homemaker for all her adult years. She had a large family that she took pride in. She made sure everyone was taken care of and always had open arms and love for everyone she met. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother. In her spare time, she loved to hand sew quilts for her grandchildren, was great at solving her crossword puzzles and mastered putting 1000-piece puzzles together. Vera was also a devoted Jehovah Witness and was baptized March 17, 1951, in Corpus Christi, TX. She loved sharing the word of Jehovah’s kingdom with whoever she could.
Vera proceeds in death by her husband of 59 years Billy Ray Downen, parents Vester, Thelma, and stepmother Margie Smith, sister Mary Fern Rose, and one great grandchild Abigail Grace Wilson.
She will be dearly missed by her 5 children, Jesse (Susan) Downen of Wilnington, IL, Vernon (Lynnet) Downen, Nelson (Heather) Downen, Christine (James) Hay, and Billy (Zondra) Downen all of Corpus Christi, TX; 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and 1 great, great grandchild.
Please join us on September 24, 2021, for a memorial service to be held at Funeraria del Angel Memorial Holly Funeral Home, 3442 Holly Rd. Corpus Christi, TX 78415. There will be a viewing held at 1PM and the service will follow at 2PM.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FunerariaDelAngelMHolly.com for the Downen family.
