Wilma Jean Downey, 72, Peculiar, MO, died Sunday, January 25, 2009 at her home in Peculiar. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 29, 2009 at the Atkinson Chapel, Harrisonville, MO. Burial will be in Wills Cemetery, Peculiar. Friends may call 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 28 at the chapel.

Wilma was born February 7, 1936 in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of John and Ethel (Dunivan) Rice. She married Charles Downey on January 15, 1956 in West Line, MO. Wilma was a member of the First Baptist Church of Peculiar. She was a graduate of Freeman High School and was a resident of Cass County, MO since 1952. Wilma had worked as a machinist for Kullman Die Cast. She was a homemaker.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents and one grandchild. She is survived by two sons, Jerry Downey and his wife, Teri and Gene Downey and his wife, Debbie, all of Peculiar, MO; two brothers, Bob Rice, Jefferson, IA and Don Rice, Peculiar, MO; one sister, Mariann Maness, O'Fallon, MO; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

She was a strong, kind and honest woman who will be missed by all that loved her.