Andrew J. Downey III, 77, of Newberry, died Saturday afternoon, Dec. 4, 2021 at his residence in the presence of his loving family and North Woods Home Care and Hospice. He was born Nov. 27, 1944 in Coral Gables, Fla., the son of the late Andrew J. Jr. and Eleanor (McGowan) Downey. On June 13, 1977, he married Rosemary Cole in Lapeer.
After his time in the U.S. Army, AJ’s father moved the family back to the area where he had been raised—Romeo. AJ grew up in Romeo, where his love for all things outdoors became evident at an early age. He learned to read through a Fur Fish and Game magazine subscription that was gifted to him by his father and spent his childhood stalking the streams and marshes of Macomb County, trapping, fishing, and hunting.
He was a 1963 graduate of Romeo High School and was drafted into the U.S. Navy as a boatswain’s mate on Nov. 11, 1965. He served aboard the Sumner-class Destroyer, USS Lofberg during the Vietnam War until his honorable discharge on Oct. 25, 1968. He continued service in the Naval Reserves until his discharge on Nov. 10, 1971.
After he was discharged, he returned to Romeo where he was hired as a test driver for Ford Motor Company. After power-shifting four speeds around the high-speed track at the Michigan Proving Grounds got boring, he opted for a job that brought him back to the area he loved—the outdoors. For several years he managed a shooting reserve in Capac, catering prime pheasant land to hunt for people all around the world. He purchased a small hunting camp located in Newberry in the late 1970s and opted to make the permanent move to Newberry in 1983 where he could fish, hunt and trap to his heart’s desire. He also became a member of the former VFW Post #4418 around this time.
AJ was an extremely talented artist and combined his skills with his love for the outdoors through his woodwork, primarily being fish decoys, which he began carving in the winter of 1982. His woodwork quickly became highly sought-after and remains so today. His work has appeared in multiple publications, as well as several exhibitions, the most recent being Hooked on Wood: The Allure of the Fish Decoy, exhibited at The Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia. AJ was not only highly skilled in woodwork, but also in painting and drawing, and was widely known for his detailed, hand-lettered signs. His mediums were numerous, his talents unmatched.
AJ will be remembered for his winsome smile, good-looks, infectious laugh, humility, and his adept story-telling skills. He was a best friend and mentor to each one of his children, always giving the correct answer, advice, and story for seemingly every life crisis. He is missed fiercely every day.
In addition to his parents, Andrew is preceded in death by his brother Joseph Downey, of Romeo, and nephew, Joseph Aleman of Las Vegas.
Survivors include his loving wife, Rosemary Cole; children, A.J. IV (Monica) Downey of Newberry, Jessica Rose Downey of Denver and Lucas Alvin Downey of Newberry; grandchildren, Roslyn Bufford and Lillian Downey; sister, Fran Funderburk of Elizabethtown, Ky. and several nephews.
Per his request, cremation services were accorded. A gathering of family and friends will take place at a later date.
Memorials may be directed to North Woods Home Care and Hospice, Newberry Fire Department or to the Newberry Goodfellows in his loving memory.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com.
Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
