Richard Arlen Downs, 75, Shepherdsville

Richard Arlen Downs, 75, of Shepherdsville, died Thursday, March 7, 2013, at his home. He was a native of Louisville and a former employee of American Tobacco Company with 14 years of service. He was a retired employee of Ford Motor Co. with 30-1/2 years of service. He was of the Catholic faith and attended St. Michael Catholic Church in Fairfield.

He was the son of the late John and Mary Agnes Drury Downs.

He is survived by his wife; Mary Laticia Bickett Downs; four daughters, Brenda Gail Vertrees and her husband Carl, both of Shepherdsville, Donna Sue Snider of Bloomfield, Karen Black of Louisville, and Judy Lynn Breeding and her husband Gerry, both of Taylorsville; one son, Richard Wayne Downs of Shepherdsville; two sisters, Barbara Ball and her husband Jerry, and Janice Yates and her husband Frankie, all of Bardstown; three brothers, Larry Downs and his wife Winnie, John A. Downs and his wife Susan, and Tom Downs, all of Bardstown; 16 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2013, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Fairfield with the Rev. David Carr officiating. Burial is in St. Michael cemetery.

Visitation is 3-8 p.m. Sunday, March 10, 2013, at the Houghlin Funeral Home with a prayer service at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of contribution to Hosparus.

The Houghlin Funeral Home in Bloomfield is in charge of arrangements.

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