Roger Spence Downer of Ocean Springs, MS, passed peacefully from this earth into the arms of Jesus early Monday morning, December 12, 2016, at the age of 54.
Roger was born on October 17, 1962, in St. Petersburg, FL. He was raised in Merritt Island, FL, along the bank of the Indian River, where his favorite pastimes were fishing and biking. He also taught himself to play the guitar, performing in church and playing and singing for hours. He liked muscle cars and enjoyed tinkering in his teen years.
Soon after high school he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his country for nearly 23 years and achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant before he retired in 2004. He was an Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman with over four years of combined overseas tours of duty. He received a number of medals, ribbons and awards of commendation and achievement, and his skill mastery and expertise were impressive, appreciated and rewarded by the Air Force.
Roger eventually settled in Ocean Springs, MS, where he enjoyed living closer to his son Ben. His continued love of fishing provided for many happy hours on the water. He was an avid collector of guitars and played and sang in local bands. Some of his favorite events were for the benefit of others in need. Roger was a caring, generous man who never met a stranger and loved God, his family, and his friends.
Roger is survived by son Benjamin Downer of Eupora, MS; mother Evelyn Downer of Pensacola, FL; brother Darrel Downer (Angie), nephew Gillion, and niece Samantha of Olanta, SC; sister Kim Davis (Richard), niece Jennifer, and nephews Cory and Seth of Pensacola, FL; devoted sweetheart Susan Furney of d'Iberville, MS; and an abundance of other family and friends. He is reunited in Heaven with father George Downer, beloved "Granny" Ethel Downer, and many other family members.
Roger's life will be celebrated at a committal service with full military honors at the Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi, MS, on Friday, January 27, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Disabled American Veteran (www.dav.org) or the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) in Roger's memory.
The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Roger was born on October 17, 1962, in St. Petersburg, FL. He was raised in Merritt Island, FL, along the bank of the Indian River, where his favorite pastimes were fishing and biking. He also taught himself to play the guitar, performing in church and playing and singing for hours. He liked muscle cars and enjoyed tinkering in his teen years.
Soon after high school he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his country for nearly 23 years and achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant before he retired in 2004. He was an Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman with over four years of combined overseas tours of duty. He received a number of medals, ribbons and awards of commendation and achievement, and his skill mastery and expertise were impressive, appreciated and rewarded by the Air Force.
Roger eventually settled in Ocean Springs, MS, where he enjoyed living closer to his son Ben. His continued love of fishing provided for many happy hours on the water. He was an avid collector of guitars and played and sang in local bands. Some of his favorite events were for the benefit of others in need. Roger was a caring, generous man who never met a stranger and loved God, his family, and his friends.
Roger is survived by son Benjamin Downer of Eupora, MS; mother Evelyn Downer of Pensacola, FL; brother Darrel Downer (Angie), nephew Gillion, and niece Samantha of Olanta, SC; sister Kim Davis (Richard), niece Jennifer, and nephews Cory and Seth of Pensacola, FL; devoted sweetheart Susan Furney of d'Iberville, MS; and an abundance of other family and friends. He is reunited in Heaven with father George Downer, beloved "Granny" Ethel Downer, and many other family members.
Roger's life will be celebrated at a committal service with full military honors at the Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi, MS, on Friday, January 27, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Disabled American Veteran (www.dav.org) or the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) in Roger's memory.
The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Roger Spence Downer of Ocean Springs, MS, passed peacefully from this earth into the arms of Jesus early Monday morning, December 12, 2016, at the age of 54.
Roger was born on October 17, 1962, in St. Petersburg, FL. He was raised in Merritt Island, FL, along the bank of the Indian River, where his favorite pastimes were fishing and biking. He also taught himself to play the guitar, performing in church and playing and singing for hours. He liked muscle cars and enjoyed tinkering in his teen years.
Soon after high school he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his country for nearly 23 years and achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant before he retired in 2004. He was an Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman with over four years of combined overseas tours of duty. He received a number of medals, ribbons and awards of commendation and achievement, and his skill mastery and expertise were impressive, appreciated and rewarded by the Air Force.
Roger eventually settled in Ocean Springs, MS, where he enjoyed living closer to his son Ben. His continued love of fishing provided for many happy hours on the water. He was an avid collector of guitars and played and sang in local bands. Some of his favorite events were for the benefit of others in need. Roger was a caring, generous man who never met a stranger and loved God, his family, and his friends.
Roger is survived by son Benjamin Downer of Eupora, MS; mother Evelyn Downer of Pensacola, FL; brother Darrel Downer (Angie), nephew Gillion, and niece Samantha of Olanta, SC; sister Kim Davis (Richard), niece Jennifer, and nephews Cory and Seth of Pensacola, FL; devoted sweetheart Susan Furney of d'Iberville, MS; and an abundance of other family and friends. He is reunited in Heaven with father George Downer, beloved "Granny" Ethel Downer, and many other family members.
Roger's life will be celebrated at a committal service with full military honors at the Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi, MS, on Friday, January 27, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Disabled American Veteran (www.dav.org) or the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) in Roger's memory.
The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Roger was born on October 17, 1962, in St. Petersburg, FL. He was raised in Merritt Island, FL, along the bank of the Indian River, where his favorite pastimes were fishing and biking. He also taught himself to play the guitar, performing in church and playing and singing for hours. He liked muscle cars and enjoyed tinkering in his teen years.
Soon after high school he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his country for nearly 23 years and achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant before he retired in 2004. He was an Aerospace Maintenance Craftsman with over four years of combined overseas tours of duty. He received a number of medals, ribbons and awards of commendation and achievement, and his skill mastery and expertise were impressive, appreciated and rewarded by the Air Force.
Roger eventually settled in Ocean Springs, MS, where he enjoyed living closer to his son Ben. His continued love of fishing provided for many happy hours on the water. He was an avid collector of guitars and played and sang in local bands. Some of his favorite events were for the benefit of others in need. Roger was a caring, generous man who never met a stranger and loved God, his family, and his friends.
Roger is survived by son Benjamin Downer of Eupora, MS; mother Evelyn Downer of Pensacola, FL; brother Darrel Downer (Angie), nephew Gillion, and niece Samantha of Olanta, SC; sister Kim Davis (Richard), niece Jennifer, and nephews Cory and Seth of Pensacola, FL; devoted sweetheart Susan Furney of d'Iberville, MS; and an abundance of other family and friends. He is reunited in Heaven with father George Downer, beloved "Granny" Ethel Downer, and many other family members.
Roger's life will be celebrated at a committal service with full military honors at the Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi, MS, on Friday, January 27, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Disabled American Veteran (www.dav.org) or the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) in Roger's memory.
The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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