of Huntsville, AL

September 18, 1926 - November 10, 2025

Elaine Downes Looney
(September 18, 1926-November 10, 2025)
Catherine ''Elaine'' Downes was born and raised in Tyronza, Arkansas, a
small cotton town in the Arkansas Delta where generations of her family had
settled in the early 20th century. The younger of two sisters, Elaine thrived in
the small but vibrant community, graduating from the Tyronza High School in
1946. She became captain of her high school basketball team and continued
a lifelong love of the game.
After high school, she attended the University of Mississippi. Elaine
remained an ardent Ole Miss Rebel fan for her entire life and was proud when
her own two children graduated from Ole Miss as well. Fall was always a
time of attending or watching the Rebels and all college football or basketball,
a favorite pastime.
After leaving Oxford and returning home to Tyronza , she became a school
teacher in the nearby Whitton Elementary school where she taught first grade
for 3 years. Her students fondly remembered her throughout the years.
While teaching, a family moved next door to her home in Tyronza where
she met a young man, Bill Looney, who she would marry in 1948 in the
Methodist Church in Tyronza. Bill would often say he literally ''married the girl
next door''. With Elaine's raven hair and Bill with his blonde wavy hair, they
made a striking couple.
Elaine and Bill lived for a time in the small community of Whitton where
Bill farmed with his father on the family's cotton farm. The couple lived there
for another several years during which time they had their first child, Jim, in
1950. The couple moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi to continue family farming
operations for the Looney family where a second child, Jennifer, was born.
Bill moved Elaine and his two children to Hughes, Arkansas to continue
his career where the family lived for two years before moving to Proctor,
Arkansas. There Bill managed farming operations for Waverly Plantation and
Proctor became the family's homeplace for the Looney Family.
Elaine was a lifelong Methodist and faithful member of the United
Methodist Church in West Memphis where she taught Sunday School to many
high schoolers over the years. She also served on the church board for several
terms and enjoyed being an officer in the United Methodist Women's
Organization. Every Wednesday for many, many years, she attended Bible
Study Fellowship.
Where their home in Proctor was located just outside West Memphis,
Arkansas, where the town became the center of Elaine's active community
involvement. Known for her friendliness, social engagement, and lively sense
of humor, she made friends wherever she went. A favorite pastime was playing
Bridge with her large circle of friends. She continued her tenure in teaching by
volunteering as a substitute teacher at Dobbs Elementary School. In her early
years, Elaine was an active member of the town's Junior Auxiliary promoting
literacy, art appreciation and health education.
Always an avid reader, Elaine loved to read biographies and history and
she was always a repository of family history and genealogy. Books were
always present in her house and on her nightstand.
With an ''eye for design'' Elaine maintained a love for interior design and
architecture, always keeping up with the latest. Her home's many valuable
antiques were hand-selected through her travels and were combined to
create the ultimate in comfort and southern hospitality. Entertaining family,
friends and guests in her home was a favorite and she was known for festive
events adorned with roses, her favorite flower. There gatherings where Elaine's
talent as a wonderful cook were enjoyed. Her lovely home was ideally located
in the Delta countryside where she could see wildlife on a daily basis. Her love
of animals was always present and she had a special love for cats who lived
happy lives in her company.
Elaine never left the house unless she was smartly dressed. Always with
a keen and intuitive eye for fashion and quality, she took pride in her
appearance and was recognized for her impeccable taste. She took shopping
to a level of a fine art.
Even though she was a small town girl at heart, she also enjoyed living
just a few minutes from downtown Memphis where she always shopped.
Both she and her husband Bill took special delight in her children and
grandchildren. But the most special aspect of her life was her 68 years of
marriage to her husband Bill, the boy next door. They adored each other and
worked together in a relationship that had love for each other as the
foundation. She will now be reunited with him in Tyronza, her hometown.
Waiting for her are her daughter Jennifer, her sister Jean, her parents, family
and many friends.
She is survived by a son Jim Looney of Dallas, Texas, grandson Butler
Looney of San Francisco, granddaughter Elaine Looney of Black Mountain,
North Carolina, Anna Catherine Harris of Huntsville, Alabama, Mary Louise
Simms of Nashville, Tennessee, along with three great-grandkids Ryder
Looney, John Paul Harris and Scott Simms.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that a donation in memory of
Elaine Looney be made to: Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis
Tennessee. www.stjude.org

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