ERNEST DOWNEN, SESSER, DIES

Ernest T. Downen, 78, of Sesser, died at 4:15 p.m. Friday, in Marshall-Browning Hospital, Du Quoin. He had become ill while in Du Quoin 45 minutes earlier.

Mr Downen was a retired farmer and coal miner.

He was born May 5, 1890, in Jefferson County the son of T. and Ada Whitlow Downen.

He leaves his wife the former Creta Clampet; sons, Paul of Sesser, Charles of Carbondale and Leonard of Scheller; daughters, Mrs. Clarine Sheriff and Mrs. Evelyn Hamilton, both of Sesser; a brother, Earl of Florida; sisters, Mr. Lillian Jones of Scheller, Mrs. Golda Mathis of Chicago and Mrs. Louis Carver of Peoria; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Two Children preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Brayfield Funeral Home, Sesser. Burial will be in the Old Baptist Cemetery, north of Sesser. Friends may call after 10 a.m. today at the funeral home.

Source: The Southern Illinoisan
Date: Sunday, March 8, 1964
Submitted by: Robert W. Loman