Bettie Jo Downey

Bettie Jo Downey

Bettie Jo Downey
August 27, 1939 – September 9, 2021
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 82

Bettie Jo Downey, 82, of Oskaloosa, died Thursday, September 9, 2021, at Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa. She was born August 27, 1939, in Oklahoma, the daughter of Carl and Mary Jo Pierce Mitchell.

On July 2, 1955, she was united in marriage to Darrell Downey. To this union four daughters were born, Phyllis, Kathi, Kim and Karen. Darrell died on March 3. 2011.

Early on Bettie worked at Downey Fine Furniture in Ollie. She also worked at the newspapers in Hedrick and Fremont. She was a dispatcher in Keokuk County for a short time. In 1990, she went to work as Eric Palmer’s legal secretary at Palmer Law Firm in Oskaloosa. She enjoyed her years there and cherished the friendships she developed working there.

In 2016, she retired from Palmer Law Firm, and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was a 50+ year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She and her husband Darrell had been members of the Elk’s Lodge in Ottumwa. She loved to read, and work puzzles. She was always active in her daughters’ lives being Girl Scout Leader and serving in several other capacities for various organizations of her daughters.

Her family includes her two daughters, Kathi (& Leslie) Peters of Michigan and Karen Downey of Oskaloosa; six grandchildren: Ryan, Rubin, Brandon, Brooke, Rachel, and Mary; sixteen great grandchildren; and many friends.

In addition to her husband Darrell, Bettie was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Phyllis; a daughter, Kim Schneider; a grandson, Benjamin Dunning; and a great grandson, Desmond Downey-Steele.

As was Bettie’s wish her body has been cremated and no services are planned.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bettie Jo Downey please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.