Mildred Irene Grabeal

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Mildred Irene Grabeal, the daughter of the late Jacob Downen and Myrtle Beerman Downen was born December 16, 1913, near Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. She entered into eternal rest on December 7, 2003, at Elk City, Oklahoma at the age of 89 years.

Mildred was the first child of Jacob and Myrtle Downen, she was born in a one room house, her dad had built. She remembered traveling in a buggy to Lone Wolf which was just 2 1/'2 miles away in a buggy. Mildred attended college at Southwestern College and Hobart Jr. College where she received her teaching certificate. Mildred taught school at Lawndale School, it was a one room school, with 23 students from grade 2n through 8th. After a year, at the Lawndale, Mildred had some family that needed her to help them, so she moved to the Oklahoma panhandle, she met Joe Grabeal.

In August of 1941, Joe Grabeal and Mildred Downen were united in marriage at the Keyes Methodist Church Parsonage. To this union six children were born. They had five sons and one daughter, Larry, Betty, Virgil, Charley, Tim and Ted.

Mildred and Joe were very proud parents of their proud sons and 1 daughter. They were a very close family. They worked together and Mildred attended all of their church and school activities.

Mildred and Joe made their hom in the Plainview Community. They farmed and had a few cattle. Mildred always had a large garden, she worked very hard in it and then she took great pride in canning her many garden products. Mildred enjoying bringing her canned goods to the Cimarron County Fair where she won many ribbons on her canning. She not only entered canned goods she entered many quilts and other items. Mildred was an avid supporter of the Cimarron County Fair. Mildred made many quilts, and gave them to family. The family will always cherish these beautiful pieces of work that Mildred took great pride in doing. Mildred wrote the newqs for the Plainview colunm in the Boise City News for many years. Mildred was a very Godly woman reading he5r Bible every morning and having her quiet time.

Mildred was a member of the Marella United Methodxist Church, she became a member of the church shortly after coming to the panhandle. She was also a member of the Marella United Methodist Women. Mildred was very actively involved in the Griggs Home Extension group.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Myrtle Downen, her husband, Joe in 1985, one son, Ted Grabeal, in May 1965, one daughter, Betty Grabeal, in November 1999, two brothers, Clifford Downen and Louise Downen, and two sisters, Nine Ruth Martin and Bonnie Garnett.

Survivors include: four sons, Larry and wife Susan Grabeal, Hammon, Oklahoma, Virgil and Leota Grabeal, Las Animas, Colorado, Charles Grabeal and Susan Cralston, Hammon, Oklahoma, Tim Grabeal, Summerest, New Hampshire and Janet of Weatherford, Oklahoma, two brothers, Allen Downen, El Reno, Oklahoma, and Harold Downen, Colorado, two sisters, Dorothy Zills, Indiana, and Ida Mae Drury, Olustee, Oklahoma, 10 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be Thursday, December 11, 2003 at 2;00 p.m. at the Plainview School, Griss, Oklahoma with Del Watkins, officiating. Internment will be in the Marella Cemetery. The family has suggested memorials to the Marella United Methodist Church, they may be left in care of the Cimarron Mortuary, Box 277, Boise City, Oklahoma 73933. Services by Cimarron Mortuary.

Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 11-Dec-2003