Erroll Jr. Obituary (1928 - 2009)

CHELSEA - Erroll 'Bill' F. Downer Jr. of Chelsea died Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. Bill was born in Gardiner on Dec. 29, 1928, the son of Erroll F. Downer, Sr. and Ruth Murray Downer. He graduated from Gardiner High School in 1947 and began working for Statler Tissue in the electrical department. After a long, productive and rewarding career, he retired from Statler after 47 years of dedicated service. Bill enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, working with metal, antique small engines and hand tools. He loved his family and many friends, including his rescued cat. He was always eager to help fix something for someone or just lend a listening ear. He is survived by one son, Bruce and his wife, Alice, of Vassalboro and a daughter, Sheila Adams and her husband, Earl, of Pittston. He was blessed with four wonderful grandchildren: Two granddaughters, Denice Baron and her husband, Todd, of Belgrade, and their children Paisley and Logan; and Debra Thompson and her husband, Michael, of Farmingdale, and their children Jordan, Jamie and Kate; two grandsons, Ethan Stevens and his wife, Kelly, of Gardiner and their children Cameron and Peyton; and Ivan Stevens and his wife, Amy, of Augusta, and their son Brandon. Bill leaves two sisters, Shirley Noble and her husband, Richard, of Saco, and Geraldine Scott and her husband, Robert, of Winthrop. He also leaves a nephew, Robert Noble and his family of Saco and a niece Ruth Droescher of Auburn, N.H., and several cousins. His cousin, Ted Collins, delivered Bill's newspaper and mail to him every day during his illness. His family extends heartfelt thanks to all of Bill's many friends for their visits and kindness and to the doctors, nurses and staff at the Augusta Rehabilitation Center and Beacon Hospice for their care. Visiting hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta, where a funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1. Burial will follow in the family plot, Greeley Corner Cemetery, Palermo. In Bill's memory, donations may be made to the Kennebec Valley Humane Society, 10 Pet Haven Lane, Augusta, ME 04330 or the Maine Coalition to Fight Prostate Cancer, 84 Fairview Ave., Augusta, ME 04330. Condolences to the family may be sent to www.khrfuneral homes.com. 6917227