Mary "Janelle" Downs

Mary “Janelle” Downs, 75, of Paola, Kansas, formerly of Leoti, Kansas, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2024, at Sunrise Assisted Living of Leawood.

Rosary will be prayed at 10:00 am, Friday, October 11, 2024, at St. Anthony of Padua’s Catholic Church, 600 S 4th Street, Leoti, Kansas 67861. Funeral mass will follow at 10:30 am. Inurnment will be held after mass at the Leoti Cemetery.

Janelle was born on Monday, April 25, 1949, in Salina, Kansas. She was one of four children to Victor John and Mary Irene (Dougherty) Dolan. Janelle grew up in Salina and graduated from Salina High School with the class of 1967. After high school, she attended Hutchinson Community College, where she obtained an associate’s degree.

Janelle married Charles Downs on Saturday, January 24, 1970, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina, Kansas. From this union they had three children; Jason, Rebecca, and Brenna. The couple made their home in Leoti, where Janelle worked as a District Court Clerk for Wichita County for many years before retiring. In 2020, Janelle and Charlie moved to Paola, Kansas, to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Janelle was an active member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Leoti, and volunteered on many different committees. She became an aerobics instructor through Rhythmic Aerobics with her friend Deb Case, where many Leoti ladies learned to rock step, kick-ball-change their way to better health. Janelle also served as a 4-H leader when her kids were younger. She was very passionate and heavily involved with the Wichita County Arts Alliance and community theater.

Janelle enjoyed golfing, music, traveling, and riding bikes with her husband and friends. She was known as the family planner, always responsible for planning family vacations and trips to Ireland on three different occasions. Janelle loved people and was always willing to lend a helping hand, even to those she didn’t know. She always made a positive impact in everyone’s life that she came into contact with.

Janelle is preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Mary Irene Dolan; and two siblings, Patrick Dolan and Karen Johnson.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Charlie Downs, of the home; son, Jason (Whitney) Downs, of Fairway, Kansas; daughters, Rebecca (Brett) Little, of Louisburg, Kansas, and Brenna (Randoulph) Castor, of Leavenworth, Kansas; two granddaughters, Emelyn and Bridget Little; sister, Vicki (Donald) Jacobson, of Manhattan, Kansas; sister-in-law, Barbara Dolan, of Palm Springs, California; as well as many extended family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made payable to the Wichita County Arts Alliance, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, P.O. Box 669, Louisburg, Kansas 66053.