HAZEL N. (REES) DOWNING
RIPLEY – Hazel N. Downing, 100, widow of Frederick W. Downing, died Sunday, November 23, 2003 at a Dover-Foxcroft healthcare facility. She was born April 24, 1903 in Mars Hill, the daughter of Leslie W. Rees and Myrtle (Broad) Rees. She was a graduate of Aroostook Central Institute of Mars Hill, Class of 1923. She trained as a nurse in Medfield, Mass. and worked as a nurse’s aide in Mass. and New York. She later moved to Ripley and married Fred Downing in 1932. Her husband predeceased her in 1944. In 1945, she took on the responsibility of raising Linal Getchell, Jr. when her sister Lena died in childbirth. She also worked at the Dexter Boarding Home, working as a nurses aide, until she retired at age 80. She was a member of the Ripley Extension and the Ripley Christmas Carol Club.

She is survived by a brother, Harold Rees of Sangerville; 4 cousins, Ruth Mahan of Mars Hill, Marion Wade of Guilford, Doris Brown of Arundel, and Ted Cheney of Connecticut. She is also survived by a very special nephew, Linal Getchell, Jr., his wife Carol, and their children, Tres and Amy Getchell; as well as several other nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Hazel was predeceased by sisters, Bernice Daley, Betty Lemieux, Amy Rotella, Beulah Nelson, Coris Haskell, Lena Getchell, and a brother, William Rees.

Friends may call from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. Tuesday at Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, 61 Main Street, Dexter, where funeral Services will be held at 10 A.M. Wednesday, November 26th, with the Rev. Harold Wheeler officiating. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Dexter. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ripley United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Dorothy Hutchins, 258 Lane Road, Ripley, ME 04930.