With great sadness, the family of the late R. Donald Downey, 70, of Flat Bay, Newfoundland, and formerly of Saint John, N.B., announce his death on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 in the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville, NL. Donald was born in Amherst, N..S, a son of the late William and Evelyn (Chapman) Downey.
Donald moved to Sackville and worked in a bakery prior to moving to Saint John where he worked for 39 years as a heavy equipment operator. He enjoyed the outdoors and particularly fishing. He had a happy-go-lucky attitude towards life and was a friend to everyone he met.
In 2010 Donald moved to Newfoundland to be with his common-law wife, Lucy Sheppard who will miss him greatly. He will also be missed by a daughter, Dawn (Dale) LeBlanc of Sackville; grandchildren, Jena LeBlanc, Angela LeBlanc and her fiancé Andrew Johnson, Ashleigh Quinlan and Riley Colwell; a sister, Myrna (Bruce) Burgoyne; Lucy’s children, Glen Sheppard, Nora (Les) Glover; step children, Wendy (Lou) Sears, Barry (Sue) Sears, Kim (Clark) Sears; as well as several nieces and nephews and his extended family and friends in Newfoundland.
Besides his parents, Donald was predeceased by a son, Daren in 1998; a brother William and Lucy’s son, Charlie.
A time of gathering for friends and family to share memories of Donald will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from his daughter’s home, 5671 Route 106, Frosty Hollow, N.B. Burial will be held at a later date. Further details or directions may be obtained from the Jones Funeral Home, Sackville (506-364-1300).
Those wishing to make donations may do so to a local hospital of your choice.