Betty Ruth Downing, 89, of Martin, TN, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2019 at Union City Nursing & Rehab.

Betty was born on November 15, 1930, in Trenton, TN, to the late William Noah Howell and the late Lissie Burns Howell. She was a retired nurse with Northwest Correctional Complex and she was also a former teacher. Betty was a member of First Baptist Church in Tiptonville and was a member of the Eastern Star.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 15, 2019 at First Baptist Church in Tiptonville with Bro. Mike Lavender officiating. Burial will be in Tiptonville City Cemetery. Dyersburg Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

The family will receive visitors from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, December 14, 2019 at the Dyersburg Funeral Home Tiptonville Chapel.

Survivors include her two daughters, Saundra Phillips of Phillipy, TN and Mary Gene Lavender and husband, Mike, of Martin, TN; a son, Russell Eugene "Bubba" Downing and wife, Rozann, of Tiptonville, TN; twelve grandchildren, George Morton, Briton Dean, J.R. Seals, Jana Seals, Jeremy Seals, Miranda Strain, Carrie Gooch, Letitia Bell, Russell Downing III, Kressida Melton, Noah Christian Downing and Jamie Brewer; twenty-nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Eugene "Hardrock" Downing; and a daughter, Susan Downing.

Pallbearers will be Bryan Avery, J.R. Seals, Jeremy Seals, Bradley Gooch, Landon Callens, Butch Archie and Russell Gauge Downing. Honorary pallbearers will be Seth Callens, Jackson Seals, Paul Hayden Seals, Chandler Dean, and Dewayne Haggard.

Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the Alzheimer's Foundation.