Add a Memory
Send Flowers
Make a Donation
Joe Downs Obituary
Publish in a newspaper
As a kid, Joe attended Eagleton Elementary School and graduated from Acorn High School in 1950. He worked for Kansas City Southern Railway for two years. He spent 8 total years in the military, 2 years active duty and 6 years in the reserve unit. He worked 29+ years for Arkansas Department of Transportation. Joe planned and planted a garden every year up until 10 years ago. It was a big part of his life to grow and share his harvest with family and friends. He was a member of the First Christian Church, where he served as a deacon, elder, and sunday school teacher. Joe also served 7 years on the Acorn school board. Joe enjoyed living life and raising his children with his wife Fay Dean and was a proud grandfather of Jared, Lacey, and Dakota.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Horace Downs and Eppah Mackey Downs; brother, Melvin Downs, James "Cotton" Downs; and an infant sister. He is survived by his wife, Fay Dene Downs; sons, Tommy Downs and wife Brenda, Dexter Downs; daughter, Karen Carter; grandchildren, Lacey Hristov and husband Georgi, Dakota Downs, Jared Williams; great-grandchild, Julia Hristov; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Services for Mr. Joe Nathan Downs will be Friday April 25, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Mena Arkansas. Internment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Mena, Arkansas. Visitation will be Thursday, April 24, 2025 from 6-8 p.m. at Beasley-Wood Funeral Home Chapel. Brother Rob Williams will be officiating under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Joel Miller, Jake Miller, Dexter Downs, David "Doodle" Graves, Walt Williams, Tate Preibus, Jared Williams, Kenny Mowdy. Honorary Pallbearers will be Brian Hilton, and Monty Williams.
Online obituary at www.beasleywoodfuneralhome.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joe, please visit our floral store.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
How you can show support
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Follow this page
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
611 Janssen Avenue P.O. Box 317, Mena, AR 71953
Make a Donation
in Joe Downs's name
People and places connected with Joe
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
How to support Joe's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Joe Downs's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
