Frank A. Downes
Frank A. Downes finished his earthly race at the age of 94 on Saturday, July 10, surrounded by his loving family.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. at Ward Street Church of Christ on Thursday, July 15, with ministers David Johnson and Lee Wright officiating. Visitation will be at Adams Funeral Home in Marlin on Wednesday, July 14, from 5-7 p.m. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Marlin.
Frank was a minister of the gospel for 73 years, over 40 of those years in full-time service to Churches of Christ in Arkansas and Texas. He held Gospel meeting throughout the U.S. and beyond in Montana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Mexico, Canada and Malaysia, fulfilling his mission and hearts desire to spread the Gospel and to lead souls to Christ.
He was born in Lott on May 29, 1927, Claude Anderson and Mary Beatrice Downes. He attended Criswell and Ben Hur Schools, where he played baseball and basketball, and forged friendships and memories that would last a lifetime. He has taken much pleasure sharing his stories about his childhood with his brother, sister, cousins and uncles these final days of his life.
After joining the Navy, where he was stationed in San Diego, Calif., he returned home and married Mary Louise Teal, and worked as a parts manager at Hackll Motors in Marlin, where Mr. Hackll was a fine mentor to our father.
He began his full-time preaching career in Lott, followed by numerous other ministries in Bertram, Florence, DeQueen, Ark., Clarksville, Roscoe, Mart and Bremond. His last sermon was at a lectureship at Ward Street Church of Christ, when he was 92, and he continued to lead devotionals and teach Sunday School as long as his health would allow.
He worked for Brazos River Authority from 1978 to 1992, while continuing to preach, until his retirement at the age of 75 in 2002. He also worked for Condor and Time Manufacturing full-time, and part-time at Industrial Electric, preaching full-time at Bremond Church of Christ as well, until the church in Bremond merged with Ward Street.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Maybelle Downes Fisher, and then in 2010 his wife, Mary Louise. He was also preceded in death by his great-granddaughter Bella.
He is survived by his brother, C.A. Downes Jr. of Odds; and his five daughters, Sharon Ann Lee and son-in-law Douglas Lee of LK, Malaysia, Deborah Nauert of Waco, Brenda Pippin and son-in-law John of Waco, Doretha Reed and son-in-law Doyle of Mexia, and Jennifer Bridges of Marlin. He is survived by 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews he loved dearly.
He is also survived by his best buddies, Craig Grady and Joe Ling, who were like sons to him and we really appreciate the love shown to him by them.
Our father, as long as he had breath would work to serve the Lord, leading others to Christ and Heaven. He believed his true retirement would come when he reached his Heavenly Home.
The family would like to thank Baylor Scott and White Hospice, Jose, and all the other nurses, as well as the Ward Street Church of Christ, Dave Johnson, who cared for daddy deeply, and our sweet cousin June, who was with us until the very end.
Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the council of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law, he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.