Mildred "Fern" Downey, age 89, of Perkins, Oklahoma passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2024, at the Sunnybrook Christian Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Burial will follow in the Perkins (Knipe) Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home and Cremation.

Fern was born May 18, 1935, in Pounds Valley, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma to Marvin Shelly Sweetin and Mamie (McCabe) Sweetin. She and her brothers attended Ti Valley one-room country school through eighth grade. Fern then transferred to Kiowa for High School where they stayed with their grandmother during the week and went back to Ti Valley on the weekends to help with the ranch. After graduating from Kiowa High School, she came to Stillwater to attend now Oklahoma State University (at that time it was "OAMC") graduating with a major in the School of Home Economics with a specialty in Child Development and Family Living. During her junior year, she met the Love of her Life, Jack Downey. They were married the following semester on November 23, 1955, in a little church just a few blocks away. They settled near Perkins, and she taught Kindergarten for two years in Cushing following graduation. After settling in on the small farm, they started raising wheat and pigs. Later, they purchased the Perky Ranch west of Stillwater. Once her children had graduated and started their own lives, Fern started her next adventure at the OSU Payne County Extension Office where she served as Secretary for 14 years. Fern has been in several organizations in and around the Perkins area including Mutual Improvements of Perkins and she was involved in helping get the Territorial Plaza constructed along with working on several fundraisers to help keep the Plaza operating. She has contributed several hours to many civic, religious, and Ag-related organizations including Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, and Payne County Cattle Producers. In 2001, Jack and Fern were honored as Cattle Producers Hall of Fame winners. She was also a devoted member of Sunnybrook Christian Church in Stillwater.

However, her greatest joy came from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved watching her family expand and grow. Fern loved to spend time with her family and those she loved dearly. She loved to feed everyone who came to their home and take meals out to the guys whether it was in the field during harvest or gathering and working cattle. Fern impacted so many people's lives with her strong faith in God. No matter what trips she took, returning to her beloved Ti Valley was always her favorite. Ti Valley lived in her heart and with the stories she shared. She enjoyed field trips, vacations, recitals, and many, many other fond memories of her precious family.

She is survived by her children Tammy Fowler of Royal Palm Beach, FL; her son Mark and Melissa Downey of Perkins, OK; brother-in-law Charles (Joan) Downey; and sister-in-law Diana Downey.

She is survived by her grandchildren Brady Bridenstine and wife Elizabeth and their children Wyatt and Clara; Tucker Downey and wife Lauren and their children Lorelai and Leo; Bailee Fowler; Harley Wood and husband Cooper and their son Barrett Jack; and Bennett Fowler and wife Lily; and three bonus grandchildren, Cheyenne Cano and daughter Octavia; and KayCee Angle and husband Cale.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jack; her parents, Marvin Sweetin and Mamie (McCabe) Sweetin; her siblings and their spouses, brother Gerald Sweetin; sister Syble Moore; brother Millard (Patsy) Sweetin; brother Samuel "Duerd" (Faye) Sweetin; brothers-in-law Cecil (Velma) Downey; Elmer (Frances) Downey; Jim (Rose) Downey; and sisters-in-law Ruth (Joseph) Peters; Dorothy (Gus) Furgal; Grace (Jack) Byrd; and Jo Wayne Downey.

Serving as pallbearers are Marvin Sweetin, Kenny Sweetin, Brady Bridenstine, Bennett Fowler, Tucker Downey, Jeff Sweetin, and John Bruner.

Honorary pallbearers are Dee Moore, Robert Bruner, Cameron McCoy, Randy Downey, Guy Griggs, Gregg Pickens, and Pecos Bridenstine.

The Downey and Sweetin families would like to extend thanks to Mrs. Downey's caregivers Jordyn Coulson, Carol Rae Deer, Erica Thomas, and the staff of Legacy Village and Karman Legacy Hospice.