Louise Loring Coffin Downs

Louise Loring Coffin Downs May 15, 1915 August 2, 2015 Falmouth Louise Loring Coffin Downs, 100, died after a short illness August 2, 2015, in a Falmouth health care facility. She was born May 15, 1915, in Lake Forest, IL, the daughter of Fletcher Barker Coffin, chemistry professor at Lake Forest College, and Frances Loring Coffin. Louise attended schools in Lake Forest, then graduated from Radcliffe College in 1935. She taught Biology at Abbot Academy in Andover, MA, participating in an exchange to teach in England. In Andover she and her mother lived in charming Rose Cottage. It was there she met Rev. Francis Downs, whom she married in June of 1957. Together with Francis's son C.B. Tertius, ""Terry,"" they made their home in Lowell, Massachusetts, where Francis served as rector of St. Anne's Episcopal, retiring in 1968. Francis and Louise shared a great love of travel. Louise traveled before her marriage, accompanying her mother on a trip to England to see the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. With Francis she enjoyed traveling to Copenhagen, the pyramids of Egypt, and cities of the Mediterranean. The couple especially loved their house on the island off the coast of Maine; here Francis sailed his boat and Louise entertained friends and family. Following her beloved Francis's death in 1982, Louise made her home in York, then moved in 1988 to the retirement community of Oceanview in Falmouth. She continued to travel, voyaging on the Queen Elizabeth II, visiting the Great Wall of China, and boating down the Amazon River. Louise enjoyed visits to her brother Rev. Lewis Coffin, his wife and five children. She was especially proud of her grandchildren, the two boys of C.B. Tertius's son Matthew and his wife Christine. A celebration of her 100th birthday brought family together in Falmouth. In addition to her parents and her husband, Louise was predeceased by her brother Lewis. Surviving are her step-son, C.B. Tertius Downs and wife Emily B., of Topsfield, MA; their daughter Allison H. Feldhusen and her husband Michael, of Salem, MA; their son Matthew P. Downs and wife Christine of Middleton, MA, and their children Nathan Joseph and Jacob Charles; nieces Jean O'Connor, Margaret Hughston, Elizabeth Schuur, and Barbara Talbot, and nephew Philip Coffin. A funeral service will be held at The Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Falmouth, Maine, at~11am~on~Monday, August 10. A "Silver Tea" memorial~reception at the church will follow immediately after the service. Burial will be in the First Parish Cemetery, 164 York St., York, Maine, after the reception at~2-2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in her name to St. Mary's church in Falmouth. This is the church's website: ~www.smary.org/ There will be no visiting hours.

Louise Loring Coffin Downs

May 15, 1915 - August 2, 2015

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