Elmer Lemoin Downey, 92, Harrisonville, MO died Friday, December 17, 2010 at Crown Care Center in Harrisonville, as the result of a heart attack. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 23, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Harrisonville. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or to the church.

Elmer was born November 15, 1918 in Harrisonville, the son of Bernie D. and Ivy Pearl (Wright) Downey. He was a lifelong Harrisonville resident and a 1936 graduate of Harrisonville High School. Elmer was a U. S. Army Air Corp veteran of WWII and a member of the Harrisonville VFW Post 4409. He was united in marriage to Helen E. Lollar on August 8, 1948 in Osborn, MO.

Elmer was a builder, developer and real estate broker and built over 150 homes and apartments. He developed the 55 acre Twin Oaks sub-division in Harrisonville and also built the first duplex apartments and townhomes in Harrisonville.

Elmer was a member of the Harrisonville School Board from 1964-1973; a 50-year member of the Harrisonville Lions Club and an active member of the Harrisonville United Methodist Church, where he served on the building committee. He was a member of the Harrisonville volunteer Fire Department for 29 years and served on the Harrisonville Little League Baseball committee for a number of years. He always had an interest in flying and obtained his private pilot's license when he was 80 years old.

Elmer is survived by two sons, Larry Downey and wife, Jennifer, Harrisonville, MO and Alan Downey, Sunrise Beach, MO; one daughter, Sue Thorne and husband, Mike, Leawood, KS; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.