Betty Downing

Miss Betty retired as a East Baton Rouge Parish school bus driver with 26 years of service, driving for St. Isidore Catholic School. She loved and remembered every child that rode her bus over those many years. She continued to adopt kids, and became widely known as Maw Maw Betty. She was the best mom and friend, and her middle name was Go. She so loved to dance, and was an avid supporter of the Tucumcari Dingalings. A resident of Baker and a native of Baton Rouge, she passed away Saturday November 17, 2012 at Our Lady of The Lake Regional Medical Center. She was 84 years young. Visiting at Baker Funeral Home, 6401 Groom Road, Baker, on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 from 58pm, and on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 from 9am until religious services in the chapel at 11am. Interment to follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Survived by Bobbie Jo Smith Berry and husband Bill, Melinda Michiels, Greg Michiels, Noupie Normand and Joy Bonvillain grandchildren, Maree Jeanne and Bret Funk and children Nicholas and Lillian, Megan and Dave Prosser and children Abigail, DeLaney and Charlotte, Jordan Black, Kori and Stephen Black, Danis Joy and Damien Salassi and children Dayne, Dalton, Dryden and Shane. She is also survived by the extended Richard Downing family. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Jane and John L. Bankston her first husband and the love of her life, Millard E. Smith a daughter, Danis C. Black a brother, Frank L. Bankston a sister, Janice Cline and her second husband, Richard Downing. In lieu of flowers, please take someone you love dancing. Memorial donations may be made to Closer Walk Ministries, PO Box 87279, Baton Rouge, LA 70879 or to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. We would like to thank the members of Foster Road Baptist Church and Joy Club for their loving care over the years. Many thanks to her caregiver, Rita Dandridge for her love and laughter.

Visitation

Baker Funeral Home
6401 Groom Rd.
Baker, LA  70714
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
58pm

Service

Chapel Service

Baker Funeral Home Chapel
6401 Groom Rd.
Baker, LA  70714
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
11am visiting at 9am

Cemetery

Hillcrest Memorial Gardens
Groom Road
Baker, LA  70714

Memorial Contributions

PO Box 87279
Baton Rouge, LA  70879


501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN  38105