Honoring Nevin Downs
Nevin H. Downs died July 18, 2012, after living a full life in spite of a 20-year battle against a blood disease. A recent accident that resulted in serious burns shortened his life. He almost made it to 70 years of age.
He was born in California to Norma and Howard Downs in 1942. He graduated from Glendale Union Academy in 1962 and from La Sierra College in 1964. Nevin met Myrtianne Pearl Westcott on a college ski trip and they married in 1967. He graduated with an MD from Loma Linda University in 1968 and did his internship in San Diego, followed by his anesthesiology residency (1969-1972) at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Myrtianne and Nevin’s sons, Warren and Brandon, were born in Utah and Arizona respectively in 1970 and 1972. Nevin served as a Major in the United States Army Medical Corps in Arizona from 1972-1974. After the Army he was recruited to Madison Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, where he practiced anesthesia, taught and helped build the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia. He served as chairman of the board for 29 years. The Downs family was complete with the birth of their daughter, Alison, in 1982 in Nashville. Nevin had a broad range of interests that included World War II history, fishing, snow skiing, electric trains and travel with Myrtianne.
His son, Warren Shelby Downs, married Jacqueline Moxley, and they have two sons, Michael and Ryan. His younger son, Brandon Howard Downs, married Jennifer Jones, and they have two sons, Hayden and William. His daughter, Alison Elizabeth Anne Downs, married Jared Wilson. In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, Nevin is survived by his sister, Andrea Downs Kristensen, and her son and daughter-in-law, Kent and Becky Kristensen. Nevin and Myrtianne’s home has been a joyful gathering place for family and many friends throughout the years.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to The Next Door or The Nashville Rescue Mission.
Services will be held at First Baptist Church, 108 7th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, July 21. Visitation will be from 1:00-3:00 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 3:00. Private burial at Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery precedes the Saturday services.
To leave a note for the Downs family or share a memory, please sign the online guest book.