Scott Downing

Scott Murphy Downing, Jr., 98, of Amarillo passed away November 24, 2017. Services will be 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 28 at the First United Methodist Church of Canyon with Rev. Rick Enns, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Dreamland Cemetery. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Directors of Canyon. The family will receive friends on Monday from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. at Brooks Chapel. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he served on various boards and committees. He was the last surviving member of the original Downing family of 12 that came to Canyon in the early 1900s. They have been active members of the Canyon Methodist Church continuously for 109 years. His mother joined the church in 1908 shortly after moving to Canyon. Scott joined in 1929. He also was a member of the Crusaders Sunday School Class. He was member of the Texas Panhandle Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War and was a past commander of the chapter. Scott was born in Canyon, April 8, 1919, to Scott Murphy Downing and Bessie Hunt Downing. He attended Canyon schools and Fort Hays State College. He was a retired building contractor. He married Bitsy Sigman in 1951 in Canyon. They have one son, Stuart Downing. Scott was usually in attendance in all of Stuart's baseball and basketball games and coached various Little League teams. Scott was an active supporter of the WTA&M University and Canyon High School athletics until failing health forced him to limit his attendance at the games. His favorite hobby was fishing. Scott served in the 20th Air Force in World War II as a B-29 Bombardier in the Pacific. He was shot down on his 20th mission during a bombing mission over Tokyo and was a prisoner of war of the Japanese. After the war he returned to Japan and served as a War Crimes witness and worked as an investigator for the Legal Section, GHQ, Supreme Command Allied Powers, prosecuting Japanese war criminals. Scott is survived by his wife and son, Stuart Downing and his wife Patricia of Amarillo, two granddaughters, Kayla Sullivan and husband Craig of Fort Worth, and April Downing of Fort Worth; two great-grandchildren, twins Hadley and Case Sullivan; also two sisters-in-law, Maxine Sigman of Corsicana and Shirley Sigman of Lubbock; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Jack, Neil, Bill and John; and five sisters, Okla Anderson, Ruth Gerald, Gladys Herman, Esther Hunt, and Marie Thorp. Scott was a wonderful man, who loved God, his family, respected his country and treasured his friendships. The family wishes to convey their sincere gratitude to the caring, compassionate staff and volunteers at the V.A. Community Living Center in Amarillo. Memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church, 1818 Fourth Ave, Canyon, TX 79015 or to the donor's favorite charity.