Lorean Virginia Downs, 96, of Coldwater, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility in Coldwater.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater with Pastor David Pierce of First Baptist Church in Coldwater officiating. Interment will follow at Sorter Cemetery in Ovid Township. Visitation will take place on Monday, September 7, 2015 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater.

Lorean was born August 25, 1919 to Everett and Cora (Krugler) Graham in Anderson, Indiana. She graduated from Albany High School in 1937. In October of 1937 she was married to Ernest ‘Gerald’ Downs of Dunkirk, Indiana where they resided until moving to Coldwater in 1955.

Lorean was a licensed beautician throughout her life, owning her own shop while in Dunkirk. In 1961, she began working at the Coldwater Regional Center. After Gerald died in December 1965 she decided to go to college. In the fall of 1967 she entered Western Michigan University where she also became a house mother for Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. She returned to her parent’s home in Albany to care for, thus continuing her education at Ball State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work in 1973. She moved her parents to her home on Coldwater Lake and resumed employment at the Coldwater Regional Center as a social worker until her retirement in 1987.

She was a member of the State of Michigan Employee Retirement Association. Lorean was an avid sports fan and she loved to entertain. She loved living at Coldwater Lake, her neighbors and all the lake activities. She loved being with people and sharing a great story or two to make people laugh.

Lorean is survived by her sons Larry (Judy) Downs of Coldwater and Dennis (Cheryl) Downs of Coldwater; her eight grandchildren, Seth Downs, Amy Downs Garcia, Justin (Connie) Downs, Aaron (Monica) Downs, Erika Downs, Matthew Downs, Benjamin Downs, Graham Downs and step grandson J.R. Quimby; her great grandchildren Nathan Garcia, Loren Garcia Thelen, Brandon, Nicholas, Hayden, Austin and Calison Downs and two step great grandsons, Bo and Wyatt Quimby; her great great grandchildren Ava and Track Thelen and step great great granddaughter J.C. Quimby. She is also survived by her niece Charlene Lawson of Coldwater.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Mildred Benzing and her special companion George Alexander.

Memorials may be directed to the United Way of Branch County. www.dutcherfh.com