A celebration of life service for Mrs. Mirle Downing, age 81 of the Grand Bluff Community in Panola County, Texas will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 21, 2007 in the Chapel of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home with Reverend Kenneth Flanagan officiating. Interment will follow in Antioch Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Saturday evening at the funeral home. Mrs. Downing passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2007 in Carthage, Texas.

Mirle Duke Downing was born on June 29, 1925 in the Rock Hill Community of Panola County, Texas to Jody Lee and Lottie Warner Donald Duke. She married James Edward "Coot" Downing on December 24, 1941. Mrs. Downing worked as a cook at a daycare in Austin, Texas for many years. She moved back to Panola County in 1976 and was a member of Grand Bluff Baptist Church and an honorary member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. Mrs. Downing is preceded in death by her parents, her husband who passed away on January 26, 1982, two sons, James O. "Jimmy" Downing who died on July 17, 2004 and Bobby Lynn Downing who passed away on January 26, 1978; a daughter, Theresa Ann Downing who passed away on May 30, 1987, and three sisters, Nora, Lois, and Ida.

Mrs. Downing is survived by one son, Johnny Downing and wife Glenda of Gladewater; two daughters, Francieal Armstrong and husband Burton of Carthage and Marcell Cranford and husband Tim of the Lake Murvaul Community; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, special daughters-in-law, Ann Downing of Gary and Kathy Downing of Waskom; many other relatives and friends also survive Mrs. Downing.

Serving as pallbearers are Kevin Kiper, Shelby Harper, Dennis Golden, Bob Newman, Jr., Shane Jordan, Shannon Jordan, James Guynes, and Paul Moore.

If desired, memorials may be made to Heart's Way Hospice, 1306 Pine Tree Road, Longview, Texas 75604.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.