ORO VALLEY, AZ - Gwynda F. Downing, 66, of Tucson, AZ, passed away peacefully at home on January 13, 2014, after a valiant four-year battle with cancer. She was born on February 16, 1947 in North Carolina to the late Fred Romilious and Cleo Hobgood Ramey.

She is survived by two brothers, Gerald Ramey and his wife Brenda of Butner, NC, and Craig Ramey of Oro Valley, AZ; her sister Freda Ramey and her husband Graham of Oceanside, CA; her uncle and aunt, Costello and Beverly Ramey of Franklinton, NC; and extended family members.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, James R. Downing. She will also be sadly missed by many dear friends and her beloved Australian heeler “Bullet.”

After building a successful drywall contracting company in San Jose, CA, Gwynda and Jim moved to Oro Valley 23 years ago, as original residents of the Desert Sky Club, where they made many dear and devoted friends. Gwynda generously supported several charitable causes, volunteered in her community, and provided personal strength and devotion to family and friends. We will all miss her wonderful sense of humor, her witty sarcasm, and her bravery.

The family wishes to acknowledge and extend a special thank-you to Gwynda’s classmates from Franklinton High School. She always cherished those friendships made for life.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2014, at the Oro Valley United Church of Christ, 1401 E. El Conquistador Way (above the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Resort off of N. Oracle Road).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Susan G. Komen Foundation of Southern Arizona, Susan G. Komen Foundation of North Carolina, Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Interfaith Community Service (Tucson), or Adult Loss of Hearing Association, Inc. (Tucson).

Paid Obituary