William Harold Downey

William Harold Downey, 90, of Harrison passed away peacefully at the Isabella County Medical Care Facility on Sunday, June 21, 2020. He was born February 18. 1930 in Detroit, Michigan the son of Harold Arthur Downey and Augusta Victoria (Magdziarz) Downey. He attended the Henry Ford Trade School and received a journeyman’s card in Tool and Die. He continued his education at the Ford Apprentice School, earning his journeyman’s card in Industrial Hydraulics in 1952. The same year, he was joined in marriage to the love of his life, Marry Jane Dittmar. They bought a house in Dearborn and were blessed with two daughters. Bill worked at the Colonial Broach Company as a Machine Builder and Service Engineer. He later worked at Chrysler Corporation- Missile Division as a test technician checking the hydraulics and pneumatic systems of the Redstone and Jupiter missile. He met the “Original Seven” astronauts while working there. Bill always dreamed of having a business of his own. In the spring of 1960, he moved his family to Harrison and bought a restaurant one mile north of the city limits. With Bill cooking and Mary Jane baking her legendary pies. They ran the Northward Inn for 12 years. They cold the restaurant in 1972. Bill decided to employ his knowledge of machine repair and opened Downey’s Appliance Center. It was located on Old US 127 just north of the airport. He and Mary Jane ran it for 24 years then retired in 1996.

Bill’s beloved wife, Mary Jane died in April 2010. Bill was a beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He will be sorely missed by his daughter, Ann (Downey) Thayer and her husband Bill; his daughter Susan (Downey) tek; four grandchildren, Rachel (Downey) Rollin and her husband Ryan, Kyle Tek and his wife Michelle. Hunter Tek and Noah Tek, and three great-grandsons, Enzo Xavier Tek, Arlo Francis Tek and Landon William Rollin.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral. Gifts in his memory may be given to the Isabella County Medical Care Facility or to Sacred Heart Parish which are both located in the Mount Pleasant, Michigan.