Marlene Downey

MARLENE L. (SHOWMAN) DOWNEY Marlene Downey born October 3, 1936 to parents, the late Raymond and Edna (Gaede) Showman, was gently taken home to be with her Lord and savior Jesus Christ on Monday April 23rd. What do you say about someone so loved, gently and sweet when they leave us? Marlene was like a beautiful flower that grew amongst us. She blossomed and gave us her beauty inside and out. She stayed as long as she could and never dropping a petal she was gone. Her beauty will always stay with us and be so missed. She shared her beautiful self with all she met, especially to her husband and family. Even her dog Pixie felt her love and saw her loveliness. Marlene struggled with major heart issues for a long time. She wasn’t supposed to make it this long, but the good Lord gave us an extra two years to love and enjoy her. We are all very grateful for that time. George and Marlene blended their families when they were married on December 3, 1981. Love, happiness and adventure followed them through their thirty-one years. They knew how to work and they knew how to play. They knew how to love and knew how to pray. That is an unbeatable combination. Marlene worked several jobs, Sauder’s Market and Whitehouse elementary school to name a few, before settling at Ohio Citizens Bank where she retired. No rolling stone gathers moss and Marlene was surely a rolling stone. Her daughter, Jodi, was in the U.S. Navy which gave Marlene the opportunity to travel. With her husband and at times her son, sister and step-daughter, she visited Hawaii, Bermuda, Italy and Germany to name a few of those places. She and George also owned a house at Black Duck Lake in Minnesota. They spent a lot of quality time there fishing and enjoying each others company. Those were experiences and memories never to be forgotten. Marlene loved collecting antiques. She especially enjoyed her Hummel collection. Shopping and collecting was one of her many passions. Her other passion was enjoying her family. Marlene was a very devote Christian. Her everyday life beamed with the glow of Christ. She was a member of Northwest Baptist Church which she attended regularly. Prayer was as common in their house as a smile. Preceding her in death are her parents, Raymond and Edna Showman; sisters, Burdette Showman; Carolyn Talmadge; brothers, Larry Showman and Kenneth Showman. Marlene will be sadly missed, loved forever and never forgotten by her husband, George; daughter Jodi Thrasher; son, Clyde Talmadge; step-daughter, Denise Downey; step-son, Gary Downey and (always thought of and called adopted daughter) Diane Kerr; granddaughter, Michelle Talmadge and great granddaughter, Ava Fust; sisters, Arlene (Lee) Miller; Barbara (Duane) Haselman; brothers, Robert Showman; Ron (Barbara) Showman; as well as many friends. Friends and family will be received in the Neville Funeral Home, 7438 Airport Highway, Holland (419-865-8879) from 2-8 pm Friday April 27, 2012. Funeral services will be held at 11 am on Saturday April 28, 2012 from the Northwest Baptist Church, 3906 W. Alexis Rd., Toledo where the family will receive friends one hour prior to service. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial contributions be made to the Northwest Baptist Church. Online condolences may be made directly to the family by visiting www.nevillefuneralhome.com.