Private family services for Dixie Lee Downey, 81, who passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at home, will be held at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola. Burial will follow services in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Van Meter, IA.

Dixie was born in Huntington Beach, California on December 30, 1938 to Fenton and Wilma (Butterfield) Benedict. She was raised by her mother Wilma and stepfather Orval Kennedy. Dixie graduated from Milo High School in 1957 and obtained a management certificate from Drake University.

Dixie was united in marriage to Dwight Downey on September 21, 1958. They had three children, David, Dennis and Penny. Dixie enjoyed working and was employed by Northwestern Bell for 6 years; retired from Iowa Power, now MidAmerican Energy, as a supervisor where she worked for the majority of her life; and for these  past 10 years was employed by Rebel's All American Exteriors.

Dixie enjoyed square and round dancing for many years, reading detective and mystery stories, and collecting Victorian photo pens. She was a social person. Her family was very important and their lives, achievements and social activites were of great interest to her. Holidays were important and fun times, spent with her family, as she and her husband hosted many. She loved them all.

Survivors include her husband, Dwight; children, David Downey, Dennis (Robyn) Downey, Penny (Scott) Riedel; eight grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and siblings, Larry Benedict and Tom (Margene) Kennedy. She is preceded in death by her parents, Orval and Wilma Kennedy; and brother, Ronald "Butch" Kennedy.

Memorials may be given in her name to the American Diabetes Association.