NEVADA - Gertrude Olia Ryan Downie, 91, died March 10, 2006, at the Christian Health Care in Nevada.
Born March 7, 1915, in Union County, Miss., daughter of the late Joseph Patrick and Olia Elgin Bryant Ryan, the family moved to Southeast Missouri when she was a child, and she graduated from Portageville High School. She and her husband owned and operated a dairy farm and milk delivery business at Charleston until 1944. She worked as a secretary and bookkeeper in Kiln, Miss., until retirement in 1978 to
On Aug. 16, 1936, in Dyersburg, Tenn., she married Laird Downie, who preceded her in death on June 13, 1989.
She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Jerry Ryan, Arnold Ryan, Everett Ryan and Grady Ryan.
Survivors include: two sons and daughters-in-law, Donald and Lorraine Downie of Athens, Ga. and Rod and Ginger Downie of Covington, La.; two daughters and one son-in-law, Rosemary and Norman Noel of Bronaugh and Patricia Downie and special friend, Rick Walsh of Glenburnie, Md.; two brothers, Carl Ryan of Puxico and Thad B. Ryan of Morehouse; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from noon until time of services at 2 p.m. Friday at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home at Puxico.
Burial will follow in the Puxico Cemetery.