Our beloved Kathleen (Kathy) Ann Downey passed away suddenly on Saturday, September 16, 2023 in Ripon, CA at the age of 72. She was born on July 17 as the first child of John and Donna Tuggle. Kathy grew up in Lathrop, CA, where she won a scholarship to attend Adrian’s Beauty College which ultimately led her to own her own hair salon.
Kathy met and fell in love with her husband, Roger Downey in 1971. They celebrated their 52nd year of married life in March 2023. They have two handsome sons and their lovely wives, Roger and Shannon Downey II and Chuck and Natalie Downey and are blessed with seven grandchildren (Jeremy, Landon, Alexis, Dominique, Ryder and Devin) and one great-grandchild, Blaidyn. Kathy is survived by her mother, husband, sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great- grandchild and sisters, Sue Shackelford and Juanita Tuggle.
Wife, mother, daughter, sister and grandmother were all titles that Kathleen embraced with love and honor. Her family was the focus of her world and she loved gathering them together for pool and holiday parties. She particularly loved Christmas and no Christmas dinner was complete without her homemade enchiladas, which she learned to make from her grandmother.
But it was Halloween where family and creativity collided to produce some of the most memorable moments for her family and friends. Each year Kathy would lovingly craft the most amazing costumes for her family. One year the Smurf costume she sewed for her youngest son resulted in a first prize in a local costume contest. Cooking, sewing, crocheting, basket weaving were only a few of her many talents. Kathy also became a top-notch target shooter with her shiny purple revolver. She and her sister would compete to see who could shoot the most bullseyes. With so many wonderful memories and stories it is difficult to give a full account of her amazing life. It was an incredible life and we all agree that we will miss Kathy’s quiet strength, resilience and unconditional love.
A Celebration of her Life will take place on Friday, September 29, 2023 at
11:00 a.m. at Deegan Ripon Memorial Chapel in Ripon, CA. Followed by burial at East Union Cemetery in Manteca, CA.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Saturday, September 23, 2023
