Bernas Downing

Bernas Downing January 12, 1933 - November 17, 2014 Downing, Bernas Sharp, 81, passed away November 17th at Fairpark Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility in Maryville Tennessee. She was the daughter of Clun and Zola Sharp, born on January 12, 1933, in Union County, Tennessee. Mrs. Downing graduated from Porter High School and was the first female to obtain a Masters Degree in Animal Husbandry from The University of Tennessee. She immediately traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, to begin working at Eli Lilly & Company where she retired as a librarian in the research area at the Greenfield location. While working at Lilly she met and married her husband of 40 years, Dr. Jean F. Downing. The Downings were long-time residents of Morristown, Indiana, where Mrs. Downing took an active interest in her community until she became ill and moved to Maryville, Tennessee. She is preceded in death by her husband and parents, as well as her sisters, Helen Sharp Drummer and Jeanette Sharp McMillan, her niece Gwendolyn McMillan McCammon and Great niece, Angela McCammon Valentine. Those who morn her passing in the East Tennessee area are her brother-in-law, Carl (Buster) McMillan, nieces Janice McMillan Pickel, Ann Drummer Collins and Regina Drummer Cox, nephew Doug Drummer, 5 great nieces and nephews, 5 great-great nieces and nephews; and in Marion, Indiana, her sister-in-law, Mary Jane Downing, nephew, John Downing, a great niece and a great nephew. There will be a viewing of Mrs. Downing at the Stillinger Family Funeral Home in Greenfield, Indiana, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm, and a graveside service at Grant Cemetery in Marion, Indiana, at 3:00 pm on Saturday, November 22. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests you make donations to the Alzheimers Association in your area or the charity of your choice.