Clifford “Oakie” Downey, of Watson, died on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at his home in Watson at the age of 66.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 10:00 AM at Watson Lutheran Church in Watson with Vicar Linda Estling officiating. Interment will be in Watson Lutheran Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 27, 2015 from 5-7 pm at the Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo with a prayer service at 6:30 PM.
Clifford Downey was born on February 29, 1948 in Long Beach, CA to Bob and Maxine Downey. He attended school in Onterio, CA and graduated in 1966. He married Lori Schaumburg in 1973 and had one daughter, Leatha Downey. In 1978 Clifford married Renee Lien of Madison, MN. They made their home in Kansas City, MO for a period of time, moved back to the Madison area in the early 1980's, and to Montevideo in 1983. Clifford and Renee had two daughters, Amanda and Angela. The family moved to Watson in 1987.
Clifford worked for Douglas Aircraft in California early in his life. He then did construction building grain elevators throughout the United States. Clifford also worked on road construction for a period of time, he also was a mail transporter. He drove truck for Larson Tiling, Bituminous Paving, and Vreeman Construction before retiring in 2004.
Clifford enjoyed the outdoors and loved camping, deer hunting, and fishing. In addition, he loved to plant flowers and garden. He especially enjoyed watching humming birds. Clifford cherished the time he spent with family and his grandchildren. He enjoyed watching football, and was a big NASCAR fan and loved to bowl. He enjoyed riding around in his golfcart and visiting all of his friends at the lake.
He is survived by his wife, Renee of 36 years; children: Amanda (Jay) Knoop, Angela (Nick) Birosh, both of Montevideo and Leatha (Cary) Hamilton of Sergeant Bluff, IA; seven grandchildren: Sam, Bode, Indyana, Skylar, Jake, Zac and Brooklin; one brother, Charles (Linda) Downey of Stockton, MO; one sister, Linda Kearns of St. Johns, AZ; father and mother-in-law, Iver and Dorla Lien of Madison, MN; sister-in-law, Ramona (Jeff) Struck of Madison, MN, and brother-in-law, Stanley (fiancé Lori) Lien of Louisburg, MN.
Preceding him in death were his parents Bob and Maxine Downey; his grandparents: Leta and Lelen Horton and Ralph and Opal Downey.