Dennis J. Downing

Dennis J. Downing of Bixby, Oklahoma, passed away on the 16 day of October, 2016. He was the seventh (and last surviving child of ten), born to Betsy Sunday Downing and Joel Mayes Downing. Dennis was born March 27, 1923 and died at the age of 93. Dennis began grade school in Pryor, Oklahoma, and then for a short time at Tahlequah where he resided in the old Thompson Home, now on the Historical Registry. Later, he attended a one-room school in rural Salina, then back to Pryor and then eventually to Locust Grove where he graduated in 1942. Dennis was on the Honor Roll all four years that he was in high school. While at Locust Grove, he became active in 4H and FFA. He excelled in dairy and livestock judging, placing second highest individual in livestock judging at the Tulsa State Fair during his freshman year in high school. Dennis always had a passion for farming, determining at an early age that one day he would own a farm. He had always said that he wanted to practice law in order to earn enough money to buy a farm; a desire that he had since a teenager. Soon after graduating from high school, as WWII had begun, he volunteered for induction into the service and was first assigned to the 86th Infantry Division. He then applied for and was accepted into the Army Air Corps. He earned his pilot wings and graduated as a commissioned officer on April 15, 1945. Four weeks after being honorably discharged from the military service, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma where he graduated from the OU Law School. Having successfully passed the Oklahoma Bar, he began the practice of law with the Rucker, Taber and Cox Law Firm. Five years later, he established his own law firm from which he retired 35 years later and devoted full time to his passion, the farm. While at the University of Oklahoma, Dennis pledged the social fraternity, Delta Chi and the legal fraternity Phi Alpha Delta. He was also a member of the Congress Club. Also at OU, he met and courted Margaret Gay Ellis. They were married during their senior year at OU and graduated together. Six years later they were blessed with a son, Sequoyah Ellis and four years thereafter, a daughter Andrea Denise. Dennis was exceptionally proud of his 7/8th Cherokee Indian blood. He was selected by then Chief, W. W. Keeler, to help re-write the Cherokee Constitution and he later served eight years on the Cherokee Election Commission, having been appointed by Chief Wilma Mankiller. Dennis was a long-time member of the Will Rogers United Methodist Church. There he served on several committees and also on the Administration Board. He also taught Sunday School classes; the one he was most fond of was the Pathfinders Class which he jokingly called the "Nile" class as they ranged in ages from "juvenile" to "senile." Dennis was also a 32nd degree Mason. Dennis is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gay; a son, Sequoyah Ellis Downing and his wife Sharri, their daughters, Emily and Abby; a daughter Andrea Denise Musgrave and her husband Lance, their children, Madison, Zachary and Emma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to DaySpring Villa, a shelter for abused women and their children-PO Box 1588, Sand Springs, OK 74063 or to Will Rogers United Methodist Church, 1138 S. Yale, Tulsa, OK 74112. Visitation will be 6-8 P.M., Friday, October 21, 2016 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. Memorial service will be 1:00 P.M., Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Will Rogers United Methodist Church, 1138 S. Yale, Tulsa, OK. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com

Dennis J. Downing

March 27, 1923 - October 16, 2016