Obituary of Alene Phyllis Downing

Alene Phyllis Downing

10.10.1926 - 3.24.2024

Alene Downing passed away peacefull on March, 24, 2024 at Owyhee Health and Rehab with family by her side. At her request the family will forgo a funeral and will hold a graveside service with interment of ashes at the Homedale-Marsing Cemetery. At a later date a Remembrance Celebration will be held at the family homestead near Wagon Town.

Alene was the oldest of three daughters born to Walt and Mildretta Adams on October 10, 1926 in LaGrande, Oregon. Her childhood was growing up in Homedale and attending all grades of school there. Many of her summers were spent with her parents and sisters, “proving up” on their homestead site at Wagon Town near Silver City.

In her high school years, Alene jockeyed a racehorse owned by Roy Connell on tracks throughout the valley. She completed her schooling in Homedale (as did all her children, grandchildren and some great-grand-children), graduating from Homedale High in 1944.

She is a fourth generation Owyhee County descendant, and her love of Owyhee County was deep. She said her “favorite places on earth were Wagon Town and Silver City where she spent many happy days, and Homedale where she was raised.”

Alene married Kenneth Downing on October 30, 1946, in Winnemucca, Nevada. Their son, Tim Walter was born in 1948 and daughters Dani Lee in 1949 and Toni Louise 1951. The family resided in Murphy for a time before moving back to Homedale in 1956 where she has lived most of her life.

The family settled on a small farm West of Homedale. Alene was a devoted and hard-working mom, providing a haven for a menagerie of wild and domestic animals. Instilling in her family an abiding love of nature, of open spaces, and of all creatures great and small.

Kenny and Alene purchased a house in Silver City in 1951 when the location was still a “ghost town.” They had many happy times there and the house remains in the family.

After her kids were grown, Alene worked 14 years as a seed analyst for Whitney-Dickenson company in Homedale, retiring in 1996.

After the passing of her mother in 1987, she became caregiver for her dad. She spent a number of summers in Silver City caring for “Gramps” and running the museum that her parents had established there. Then caring for him through his last days in Homedale. Alene loved antiques, tracking historical places and rock hunting. She was gifted at crafts, sewing and music. Playing the piano for over a decade for the Homedale Order of Eastern Star. One time playing an improvised instrument for the only meeting of Easter Star held at the Masonic Lodge in Silver City. Our Mom filled our world with love and music at our many cherished family Christmas gatherings.

Alene was independent, adventurous and courageously took on challenges like having her own home built and starting a business in her 60s and early 70’s.

Her grandchildren have fond memories of time spent with Gran at her house, at the Homestead, and in Silver City where she could leave even the most energetic little boy in the dust hiking the trails on Florida or War Eagle Mountains. She deeply and unconditionally loved her people, and cherished time

with family. She will be remembered for her huge heart and even bigger hugs that got stronger with time.

Her final years were spent at Owyhee Health & Rehab in Homedale.

Alene is preceded in death by her parents, Walt and Mildretta Adams; a son, Tim Downing; Sister and Brother-in-law Pat and Don Davis; nephews, Bill and Kenny Davis; a son-in law, Steve Ross; special friends, Opal Nash and Shirlene and Richard Ross.

She is survived by a sister, Marilyn (Jack) Burke; daughter-in-law, Deb Downing; daughters Dani Aman and Toni Ross; grandchildren, Erica (Brad) Dines, Marci (Jason) Blandford, Zac (Lisa) Ross, Zeb (Julee) Ross. Twelve great-grandchildren, four nieces, Judy (Bill) McBride, Janie Burke, Holly (Kip) Romans, Mary Burke and a nephew, John (Sherry) Burke and special friend Larry Carlston.

Alene was a very strong, independent and self-reliant individual who took great pride in being identified as a member of “The Greatest Generation”.

Her legacy will be her dedication to her family, her sacrifices made for others, her resolved sense of responsibility and a deep and extreme generosity that will ripple through the generations to come. Our Mom and Gran was a forgiver, a unifier, our fortress and our rock.

Our “Gran” will be in our hearts and memories forever!

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Owyhee County Historical Society.

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