Surrounded by loving family, Anna Rosalee Downing entered into the glory of her Lord April 1, 2015 at the Atchison Senior Village in Atchison, Kansas.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 11:30 A.M. at Sugar Creek Christian Church with Rev. Keith Hoover officiating.  Cremation will follow the services.  Visitation with the family will be Monday, April 6, 2015 from 6:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Sugar Creek Christian Church.  Memorial contributions are suggested to God’s Mountain, Sugar Creek Ladies Aid, Northeast Kansas Hospice or Atchison Senior Village and may be left in care of Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home, Atchison, Kansas with whom the final arrangements have been entrusted.  Online condolences may be left at www.arensbergpruett.com.

Anna Rosalee was born October 16, 1923 to Elmer E. and Ruth N. (Faris) Duncan.  She grew up in the hills of Rushville, Missouri, attended Sugar Creek Christian Church and graduated from the Rushville High School in 1942.  She entered the Methodist School of Nursing in St. Joseph, Missouri and became a member of the American Nurses’ Association in 1945 along with being appointed an American Red Cross Nurse in June of that year.

During her career as a registered nurse, she worked at hospitals in both Atchison, Kansas and Wichita, Kansas.  Later, she furthered her education to become a nurse practitioner, and worked from the office of a private physician in Wichita.

She was united in marriage to Ralph E. Snyder August 30, 1947 at the First Christian Church in Atchison, Kansas (He preceded her in death March 17, 1990).  They raised twin sons, Ellis E. and M. Craig Snyder, in Wichita and moved back to Atchison, Kansas in 1985.

She married lifelong friend Bob Downing on December 18, 1991 (he preceded her in death on November 27, 2006).  She moved back to her Missouri hills and farm life once again and gained more family to love. She and Bob enjoyed doing family things together as well as some traveling.

During her life, Rosalee, or Sis as many knew her, was a member of the Sugar Creek Christian Church, Rushville, Missouri, the Mt. Olive Christian Church, Wichita, Kansas and the First Christian Church, Atchison, Kansas.

She enjoyed cooking, reading, sewing, crocheting, crafts, playing the organ, round and square dancing (as an excellent seamstress, she made all of the many costumes for herself, and husband, Ralph) and being involved in church as well as all of her family. She was a member and served as president of the Christian Women’s Fellowship (Wichita, KS), and the Sugar Creek Ladies’ Aid (Rushville, MO).

She spent many tireless hours in a “care-giver” capacity for many throughout her life.  Her independent and persevering spirit has inspired, her many talents admired, her wit and humor enjoyed!

“She leaves behind a void, but fills one up above…And each of us is a better person for having had her love!”

She leaves one son, Craig Snyder, Atchison, KS, two stepsons, Greg Downing, Washington, D.C., Bart Downing, De Kalb, MO, and a stepdaughter, Cathy Nold, St. Joseph, MO, step grandchildren, four nephews, three nieces, many cousins, extended family and friends.