DOWNEY, Mary Elizabeth Age 90 of Nashville, TN, formerly of Bowling Green, KY, died October 28, 2011 in Nashville. She was the daughter of the late James Downey and Viola Kelley Downey, and was preceded in death by her brother, Melvin Reed Downey and sister-in-law, Nellie Bach Downey. Mary was born in Woodburn, KY and attended Woodburn Consolidated School, K-12, Western Kentucky University and Bowling Green Business University. Following graduation, Mary worked for the Army Corps of Engineers at Wright Field, Dayton, OH and during WWII, worked for the Dept of Defense in Washington, DC as they prepared for and carried out the D-Day invasion of Europe. After the war, Mary worked 35 years for the Baptist Sunday School Board, now known as Lifeway in Nashville, TN, as Assistant Literary Editor of Church Music until her retirement in 1987. Mary's colleagues credit Mary with a rare combination of judgment, technical skill and friendly manner. Mary's family were life-long members of the First Baptist Church of Bowling Green and Mary was a member of the First Baptist Church in Nashville until her death. Visitation is 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday, November 4th at the J. C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapel, 820 Lovers Lane in Bowling Green, KY. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 5th at the funeral home, with burial at Fairview Cemetery, Bowling Green, KY. Survivors include her beloved friend and caregiver, Cornelia Hawkins; her nieces, Nancy Earley of Harviell, MO, Susan Kiel, husband Paul N., and Melinda Sepmeyer, husband, Richard, all of Atlanta, GA; a nephew, Melvin Downey, wife, Stephanie of Cary, NC; eighteen great-nieces and nephews; nineteen great-great nephews and nieces, and many extended family members. J.C. KIRBY & SON FUNERAL HOME, (270) 842-0303.