Morton B. Downs Jr., 93, of Owensboro, KY passed away January 12, 2023. He was born August 21, 1929, to the late Morton B. “Flappy” Downs Sr. and Rebecca Dawson Downs in Owensboro. He graduated from Owensboro High School in 1947 and Centre College in 1951. Morton served in the Weather Service of the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955 stationed in Alaska. He worked at Western KY Gas Co. for five years then in different phases of construction until he ran Harralson Seed Co from 1982 until his retirement in 1994.
Morton was baptized at Buena Vista Baptist Church on Pearl Harbor Day 1941 and served there as a deacon and Sunday School teacher until 1994. He continued serving at First Baptist Church as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for seniors for another 10 years.
He was preceded in death by his two younger brothers, Robert “Bob” F. Downs in January 2021 (Mary Jo 2017) and Stanley D. Downs in December 2022; and a brother-in-law Thomas D. Emberton in October 2022.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years Janelle Emberton Downs; son Morton “Boyd” Downs III; granddaughter Lauren Downs; great-grandson Cody Livesay, sister-in-laws Carolyn Downs and Julia Lee Emberton; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 officiated by Dr. Paul Strahan at Rosehill Cemetery Chapel. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. James H. Davis Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 904, Owensboro, KY 42302 or a church of donor’s choice.