Zada L. Downing

Zada Louise Downing, 89, passed away on October 27, 2011. She was an active and vibrant citizen of Coupland, Texas. She is survived by her only child Judy Downing, three grandchildren, Eric Kaysen and his wife Roseanne, Crystal Horn, and Kit Kaysen, seven great grandchildren, her younger brother, Lewis Williams and his wife Ruth, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was married for 63 years to Burney Downing, Jr. Zada was born in Putnam, Texas, on April 18, 1922 to Lewis and Eleanor Williams, and was the second of 4 children. She was a 1939 graduate of Putnam High School and attended Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College, San Marcos, where she met Burney. They were married June 24, 1942, and for the next 28 years she moved numerous times around the country taking care of the family as Burney served in the United States Air Force. Over those years Zada developed quite a reputation as a skilled duplicate bridge player, excellent cook, enthusiastic square dancer, and professional bookkeeper as they lived in Florida, Nebraska, Louisiana, and Texas.

After Burney’s retirement in 1969 they relocated to their ranch East of Coupland, Texas and were active in various Coupland organizations for many years. She also continued to work as a bookkeeper for several more years. Zada was a member of St. Peter’s Church and was the “accounting department” for many years and also long-standing choir member. She was active in the Coupland Civic Organization and was still the treasurer at the time of her passing. Her mental fortitude left her standing through two instances of breast cancer, two broken hips and one stroke, all the while continuing to live independently on the ranch. You always knew that on Friday she would be getting her hair done at Glenda’s in Elgin and on Sunday you wouldn’t eat until she had finished counting the church collections and preparing a deposit. She also never missed a “Cousins’ Lunch” when family members would get together in Austin and catch up. Thanksgiving was a special holiday for Zada. For the past 40 odd years, her extended family would gather together at her house on Thanksgiving Day. Zada always took care of the turkey, dressing, and giblet gravy as well as making “real” cranberry sauce and her famous green jello salad. She would be up at the crack of dawn to start the turkey and would collapse into bed at the end of the day after making sure the house was clean. The day was filled with Dallas Cowboy and UT football, exploring the ranch, games, and numerous forages for leftovers. In recent years she expanded the holiday to take in Friday with a follow-up outdoor hot-dog and marshmallow roast. She enjoyed greatly seeing the various generations of children and grandchildren grow and expand. Zada was a strong and stoic woman who provided a foundation and commitment to her family, church, and community. She will be always loved, fondly remembered and sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Coupland Civic Organization, P.O. Box 64, Coupland, TX 78615, a memorial in Zada’s name to St. Peter’s Church of Coupland (UCC), P.O. Box 146, Coupland, TX 78615 or to a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 P.M., Thursday, November 3, 2011 at Providence Funeral Home.

Celebration of Life Services will be 3:00 P.M., Friday, November 4, 2011 at St. Peter’s Church of Coupland with Rev. John Sumner officiating. Burial will be 2:00 P.M., Saturday, November 5, 2011 at the San Marcos City Cemetery.