CHETOPA — Maxine Downing, 86, of Chetopa died at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at Freeman East Hospital in Joplin.

She was born on Feb. 1, 1925, in rural Chetopa to Elmer Joseph and Birdie Ethel (Moore) Blundell. Following graduation from Chetopa High School in 1942, she attended Coffeyville Teachers College.

She married James Otho Downing on June 9, 1946, at Assembly of God Church in Chetopa. He survives of the home.

She owned and operated The Lost Sheep arts and crafts store in Chetopa.

Other survivors include a son, Ron Downing, of rural Miami, Okla.; a daughter, Debbie VonFeldt of Oklahoma City, Okla.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, George Blundell and Willard Blundell; and a sister, Evelyn Goodwin.

The service will be at 2 p.m. at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home. The casket will remain closed.

Memorials are suggested to the Community Bible Church Women’s Ministries and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, 67336.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.