Hazel Marie Downey

Hazel Marie Downey, 87, of Moberly passed away March 12, 2021 at her daughter's home following a brief illness.

Hazel was born June 18, 1933 to James and Tessa Lorine (Poe) Hartung in Ten Mile, Missouri.  She graduated from Macon High School in 1951 and attended Chillicothe Business College.  Hazel married Rev. Tom Downey on May 9, 1958 at the Ten Mile Baptist Church where they met when Tom started pastoring the church in 1956.  To this union were born two daughters Jennell and Jennett. Hazel worked for Bersted's/McGraw Edison/Toastmaster for 48 years.  She was the first woman hired at Bersted's and when Toastmaster in Moberly closed, she was one of the last to leave.  She then transferred to the Macon Toastmaster plant where she retired in 2000.

Hazel was full of life and truly loved everyone she met.  She never met a stranger.  She served alongside her husband for many years as a devoted pastor's wife.  She led the singing at all of the churches her husband pastored.  She was the Monroe Baptist Association hymn sing leader for the past 48 years.  Hazel was an active member of the Pleasant Green Baptist Church until her death and  was a member of the Levicks Mill Grange.  Hazel was an avid listener to KWIX radio and was often heard on the birthday program and party line.  If she knew you and knew your birthday, she called it in.  Hazel loved to garden and can her produce.

The most important thing in Hazel's life was her Master and her family.  Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were her pride and joy.  She told anyone that would listen that her family was the best in the west. 

Hazel is survived by her children Jennell Embree and her husband Chuck and Jennett Downey of Moberly; grandsons Jared Embree and his wife Jordyn and Corey Embree of Moberly; great grandchildren Cole and Emmie Embree of Moberly, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, and her special "adopted" granddaughter Emma Divers of Columbia, Mo. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, siblings and their spouses; Junior and Dorothy Hartung; Mary and Dan Overstreet; Harvey and Martha Hartung; Wyndell and Martha Baker and an infant brother.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Pleasant Green Baptist Church or the Ten Mile Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

Words of comfort and support were shared with the family at a visitation held in the Cater Funeral Home.  Services honoring Hazel’s life were held the next day in the Pleasant Green Baptist Church.  Committal prayer and burial followed at the Ten Mile Baptist Church Cemetery.