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Dessie Downs-Elliott Obituary

Dessie Canola Downs-Elliott passed away Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in Detroit, Mich.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at Cox Chapel Church. Pastor Jackie Whisenant will officiate. Interment will be in the adjoining cemetery. Boaz Carr Funeral Home directing.
Canola and her twin sister, Bessie Iola, were born March 29, 1917, at Smith's Institute to O.C. Downs and Mattie Allen Downs.
She is survived by her son, J.D. Gaskin; daughters, Sue Presley, Yolanda Fleming and Elfreda Davidson; sisters, Camella Baswell, Helen Hinkle, Ruth Ellen Turner; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 this evening at Boaz Carr Funeral Home and Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Published by The Gadsden Times from Oct. 4 to Oct. 5, 2012.
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Aunt Canola was a treasure. I am the youngest daughter of her identical twin, Iola. I loved hearing them talk about their younger years when they would "switch" dates for the evening and their suitors would be none the wiser. In their senior years (85+), it was nothing unusual for them to roll up each other's hair in those hideous pink-clamp rollers, hose down in Estee Lauder Youth Dew and point one of those land yachts they each drove at the time into the wind and head out on a cross country or intrastate trip. I spent so much time on the phone with the state troopers between here and Michigan trying to track those two, we were all on a first-name basis! Mother and Canols loved gardening and you could hear them singing their favorite hymns to the top of their lungs. They liked to dress alike and go to church and to singings. They actually knew and could sing in the old "fa-so-la" style. She and mother could always be talked into a game or two or three of Rook. Aunt Canola was of humble means, she was kind-hearted, and in her latter years she loved to talk about what the Lord had done in her life. Like my mom, she had two different generations of kids. She loved her family and she could always make room for "one or two more" when somebody came by hungry or needed a place to lay their head to rest for a while. I loved her very much. She laughed--a LOT and it was infectious. I will miss her. I wondered what it would be like at her funeral today, if I would relive mother's passing again. But I didn't. Today was Canola's Day. It honored her, as it should have and she would have been pleased that her family and friends had gathered one final time to bid here farewell (for a season). I didn't know it until today but her favorite Scripture was "If God be for us, who can be against us." Our thoughts and prayers today are especially with her children and grandchildren and her sisters. Out of the nine children born to my grandparents, only the three youngest girls are still with us. I don't think that she is resting in peace--I think she is having the time of her life in a place prepared for those by God Himself for those who trust in Him! I love you and will miss you, Aunt Canola. Jo Rials Taylor

October 6, 2012

Aunt Canola was a delight. She loved playing Rook. She used to sing hymns while she did her housework. My sweet mother, Iola was her twin. They used to laugh about their dating years when they would "swap" suitors and the young men would be none the wiser. In their senior years when they were well past 80+ they thought nothing of heading one of those big land yachts they each drove at the time into the wind and heading out together on a cross country trip. They loved dressing alike, they loved going to singings and were known to belt out a song or two when prompted. They loved spending time with family and they were hilarious together! Of the nine children born to my grandparents, there are only three still living. May God bless each of them and during this time be especially near and dear to Aunt Canola's family. We love you and we feel your loss. Jo Rials Taylor

October 6, 2012

we were neighbors to iola rials and met your several times and we never could tell them apart sorry for you loss but iola greeted her in heavean with a hug and laugh i miss mrs ryals alot her and jo were the best neighbors david and charlotte taft

October 5, 2012

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

October 4, 2012

BLESS THIS FAMILY WITH PRAYERS AND PEACE

LAURIE JOHNSON

October 4, 2012

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