Earl Warren Downey

9/8/1939 – 11/3/2012

Earl Warren Downey was born September 8, 1939 in Merced, California and went home to be with the Lord on November 3, 2012, at the age of 73.

Earl was born in Merced and attended school in Livingston, graduating from Livingston High in 1958. He attended and played baseball at Coalinga College. He served in law enforcement with Merced Police Department as patrol officer from 1966-68 and detective from 1975-80, Merced County Marshal’s office as Deputy and Sergeant from 1989-2002, and retired as Sergeant from Merced County Sheriff in 2003. Through the years, he also worked with San Mateo Parks and Recreation from 1960-66, family ranching from 1968-75, owned Earl’s Mini Market at five corners in Atwater in the 1980’s.

Earl loved hunting duck, chukar, pheasant, elk, deer, and wild pig, fishing, dredging for gold, helping grandson Derek race mini cars, and building and flying remote controlled airplanes. Earl was proud to be Irish, yet was a humble man who lovingly cared for his family. He was a strong “man’s man,” with a tender heart, who may be best remembered as a gentle giant by all who knew and loved him.

Earl was preceded in death by father, Warren Dale “Doc” Downey; mother, Lois (Petersen) Downey; uncles/aunts, Daniel Downey (father’s twin), Joe and Isabel Downey, Chet and Lois Downey, Bernice (Petersen) and Charles Smith, Irwin Petersen, and Herbert Petersen; and mother-in-law, Billie Siglin.

Earl is survived by his loving wife of twelve years, Carolyn (Siglin) Downey; sisters, Joannie Bassett of Sunnyvale and Jan (Dan) Wheatley of Selma; mother of Shannan and Colleen, Nancy (Downey) Anglin; daughters, Shannan Downey and fiancé Mike Titsworth of San Lorenzo, Colleen Downey, and Amy (Jason) Downey Haygood of Atwater; father-in-law, William Siglin of Merced; sisters-in-law, Janet (Fred) Rathbun of Mariposa, and Pam (Dan) Goza of Kuna, ID, brother-in-law, Les Siglin of Rio Rancho, NM; grandchildren, Derek (Victoria) Rolfe, Dominic Wotila, Ayden Haygood; great-grandson, Hudson Lee Rolfe of Atwater; Uncle/aunt, Bill (Pam) Petersen; cousins, Bill (Judi) Petersen and Dan (Lyla) Petersen of Winton, Dianne (Darol) McKinley of Atwater, Lyn (Skip) Null, Richard (Mimi) Smith and Robert Smith of Merced, John (Mikki) Peterson of Elk Grove, Kathy (Jerry) Walters of Oakland, Bill (Carolyn) Peterson of Hanford, and Sandy (Ron) Lorenz of Snelling; Aunt, Veva (Mrs. Daniel) Downey and cousins, Marlyn Wise, Dan (Laura) Downey of El Dorado Hills, Mel Downey, Richard (Debi) Downey, and Phyllis Vann, Sharon (Joe) Reeves of Atwater, Diann (Dwight) Benafield of Livingston, and Chet (Lucy) Downey of Los Banos. He also leaves a large family of friends in law enforcement and the community.

In lieu of flowers, the family will appreciate contributions to the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Fund, 901 E. St., Ste. 100, Washington, DC 20004-2025; The California Peace Officers’ Memorial Fund, 1700 I St., Ste. 100, Sacramento, CA 95811; or the charity of your choice.

Viewing will be held on Friday, November 9th, from noon to 8 p.m. at Stratford Evans Funeral Home, 1490 B Street, Merced. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 10, at First Baptist Church, 500 Buena Vista, Merced, followed by interment at Evergreen Memorial Park, Merced.

Arrangements are under the direction of Stratford Evans Funeral Home, Merced.