Calvin L. Downing

Calvin Lee Downing, 90, Centerview - husband, father, grandfather, and lifetime farmer – passed away Sunday, March 1, 2015, at St. Luke’s East in Lee's Summit, surrounded by family.

Calvin was born in rural Lafayette County on Sept. 26, 1924, to Claude and Lillie Pearl (Shobe) Downing. He attended Wolfenbarger School and graduated from Farmer’s High in 1942. He married Maxine Boone in Olathe, Kan., on March 28, 1944. He loved her dearly.

Calvin served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a mechanic during WWII. Upon return, he and his brother-in-law owned Odessa Auto Salvage, and Calvin began his lifelong career as a farmer. In the mid-70s he opened Northside Feed in Warrensburg and also sold Dekalb seed corn for several years. Calvin never “retired” from farming and raising cattle, but he enjoyed traveling. Most of all he loved his family. He was very strong, very stubborn, and very loved by all who knew him.

Calvin is survived by wife (Ruth) Maxine Boone Downing of the home; two children, Donna Matthews and Ross and wife, Michele, Downing, both of Warrensburg; five grandchildren, Troy and wife, Gale, Matthews, Tony and wife, Stephanie, Matthews, Sarah Montgomery and husband, Codi, Rebeca Downing and Emma Downing; three great-grandchildren, Ethan, Sam and Avery Matthews; brother, Earl Downing; and faithful canine companion, Shorty.

In addition to his parents, Calvin was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Archie Matthews.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, March 6, at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home in Odessa. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Mt. Tabor Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Calvin Downing Ag Legacy Scholarship Fund at Crest Ridge High School.

(Paid Obituary)