Ella Lucille Stricklin Downing of Cordova, Tenn., died peacefully on June 6 at home after a long illness. She was 92, and the widow of Quentin Downing, who passed away in 2011.

Mrs. Downing was born March 5, 1930, in Savannah, Tenn., the daughter of Ernest and Clara Stricklin. She was the oldest of six children. She married in 1948, and lived with her husband initially in rural Wayne County, Tenn.,  then in Lost Cane area of Mississippi County, Ark., where her husband farmed. The family moved to Flint, Mich., in the early 1950s where Mr. Downing found work in auto factories. The Downings, with their two daughters, Shirley and Brenda, lived for many years in Lake Fenton, Mich.

Mrs. Downing was a fine seamstress who made many of her daughters' beautiful school clothes and prom dresses. She also instilled a love of reading and education in her girls.

In 1978, their daughters grown and out of college, the couple moved to Pocahontas, Ark.,  where they enjoyed retirement years with gardening, fishing  and visiting with other relatives in the area.  Always frugal, they still enjoyed occasional  trips to the casinos where they played penny slots. They bought a home in Cordova in 2002, while dividing their time between Tennessee and Arkansas.

Mrs. Downing was generous, kind and fun-loving. She especially liked to travel.  She and went on her first plane trip to New York City in her late 80s. The next year, she got a  Passport so she could go on a Carribbean cruise. She enjoyed trips with her daughter, Shirley, to New Orleans, Florida, Michigan and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The couple's youngest daughter, Brenda Kontyko, passed away in 2006. Mr. Downing died in 2011. Mrs. Downing's parents and two brothers, David Stricklin and Ernest Stricklin,  preceeded her in death.

She is survived by her daughter, Shirley Covington (Jimmie ) and grandson Michael Covington (Rachel) of Cordova;  grandson Carl Kontyko (Nicole) of Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.; stepgrandson John Covington (Kim) of Arlington, Tenn., and stepgranddaughter Jimmie Spence or Gulfport, Miss.; two sisters, Linda Malone and Sue Smith of Savannah, Tenn.; a brother Ancil Stricklin of Custer Park, Ill.; four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.