A loving husband, father, son, brother and friend, he was a doctor of veterinary medicine and owner of Downing Animal Hospital, O'Neal Lane. He died Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at 1 a.m. at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond at age 50. Dr. Downing was a native of Baton Rouge and a resident of Hammond. He graduated from University High School in 1976, attended McNeese State University from 1976 to 1980, where he received the Academic All-American College Football Award in 1978 and 1979, and graduated from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and was a member of Ducks Unlimited. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Friday, April 3, from 9 a.m. until the religious service in the chapel at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Johnny Presley and the Rev. Paul Trentacoste. A graveside service will be held at the Ponchatoula City Cemetery on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Survived by his wife, Mary Gorenflo Downing; children, Jessica Anne, Kristen Noelle, James Robert Jr., Quincy Alexa and Clayton Bradley Downing, all of Hammond; mother, Sara Menefee Downing (Mrs. Ben R.); sisters, Linda Downing Eubanks and husband Reavis, of Asheville, N.C., Martha Downing Stinson and husband John, and Sarah Margaret Downing, all of Baton Rouge; brothers, Ben Rice Downing III and wife Dawn, of Baton Rouge, and William Leonard Downing and wife Eileen, of Chesapeake, Va.; numerous nieces and nephews; and Rex and other family dogs. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society, 6357 Quinn Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70817 or First Baptist Church, 325 E. Pine St., Ponchatoula, LA 70454.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5