Gale M. Downes
September 9, 1923 - May 5, 2021
Gale Meredith Downes of Dearborn passed away peacefully on May 5, 2021, at the impressive age of 97. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Dorothy; son, Kenneth (Mary Ann) Downes; daughter, Carol (Kevin) O’Day; brother, Denzil (Vera) Downes; three grandchildren, Carrie (Jon) Teefey, Kimberly (Joseph) Dodds, and Laura (Steve) Hernandez; five great-grandchildren, Logan, Lorelei, Jack, Journey, and Madelyn; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Retired from Uniroyal Tire since 1986, Gale enjoyed a long and fulfilling retirement. Gale was a true kid at heart, and he was highly active well into his eighties, always up for exploring new places or creating projects around the house. A consummate grower of tomatoes, expert candymaker, and sharp-witted master of silliness, Gale loved tinkering in his garden, sketching, riding his bike, traveling with Dorothy and his brother-in-law Bob, playing golf, and spending lots of time with his kids and grandkids. Gale/Dad/Grandpa—We loved having you in our lives and hope that wherever you are, you know that your time here was a life well lived, full of love and laughter. As you might have said, “That was a good sample.” In lieu of flowers, the family encourages those who knew and loved him to share a favorite memory or photo of Gale.
Gale Meredith Downes of Dearborn passed away peacefully on May 5, 2021, at the impressive age of 97. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Dorothy; son, Kenneth (Mary Ann) Downes; daughter, Carol (Kevin) O’Day; brother, Denzil (Vera)... View Obituary & Service Information