Michael B. Downs

Michael B. Mickey Downs, 77, of Bridge City, died Saturday, January 26, 2013, at his home. Visitation will be at Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday. A rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Bridge City. The celebrant will be Father Steven Leger, pastor of St. Henry's Church. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Bridge City. Serving as pallbearers will be Jacob Schiemenz, Darrell Schiemenz, Michael A. Downs, II, Nick Portacci, Chase Warner, Chuck Montgomery, Morris Mettlen, Jr. and Keat Chiasson. Born in DeRidder, Louisiana on October 4, 1935, Mickey was the son of Clyde Prentice Downs and Elma (Flanagan) Downs. He was a retired supervisor with Star Enterprise and was a U.S. Army veteran having served during the Korean War era. Mickey was a member of St. Henry's Catholic Church in Bridge City; the Knights of Columbus; American Legion Post 250 and V.F.W. Post 9854. Preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Elma Downs; brother, Prentice E. Downs and sister, Betty Baird, Mickey is survived by his wife, Beverly A. Downs of Bridge City; son and daughter-in-law, Michael A. and Zita Downs of Port Neches; daughters and sons-in-law, Terri and Mark Schiemenz of Kingsbury; Dana and Matt Portacci, Karen and Charley Warner, all of Bridge City. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Alicia Downs-Whitney of Austin, Jacob Schiemenz of Roswell, New Mexico, Darrell Schiemenz of Portland, Sara Phillips of DuPont, Washington, Lacey Chiasson and Michael A. Downs, II, both of Port Neches; Cassie Portacci of Houston; Nick Portacci, Chase Warner, Christine Warner, all of Bridge City; great grandchildren, Allan Downs, Christian Chiasson, Tyler Phillips, Arya Downs-Whitney; brother, James Downs of DeRidder, Louisiana; sisters, Barbara Perry, Carol Montgomery and Sue Downs, all of DeRidder, Louisiana, and Penny Falke of Denham Springs, Louisiana.