Willis McCracken “Mac” Downs, age 74, of Frisco, Texas, passed away January 19, 2022, at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Plano, Texas after a long illness. Mac was born May 1, 1947, in Cairo, Illinois, to Willis Andrew and Jo Ann (Frazier) Downs.
Mac graduated from Charleston High School, Charleston, Missouri, in 1965 where he played football, basketball and ran track. During this time, he met his high school sweetheart, Nancy Schwab. They were married on August 19, 1967, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Mac and Nancy had two children: Kimberly in 1969 and Tyler in 1976.
Immediately after high school, Mac enlisted in the United States Air Force. He attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and after basic training was stationed at Sewart Air Force Base in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1967 he was transferred to Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico.
From 1968 to 1969 Mac was deployed in Vietnam. He was stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base where he was a jet engine mechanic. During his service in Vietnam, he reached the rank of Staff Sargent. After Vietnam he was stationed at Travis Air Force Base near San Francisco, California. In 1969 he was honorably discharged from the Air Force. Mac was proud to have served in Vietnam and believed that his military service positively shaped the rest of his life. He maintained his ties to the military by joining the VFW in Cape Girardeau and volunteering his time to the Moving Vietnam Memorial Wall.
From 1969 to 1999 Mac was employed as a line technician at Proctor & Gamble in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. After retiring from Proctor & Gamble, he worked part time at the Honda Dealership in Cape Girardeau and later at Jackson Machine in Jackson, Missouri.
Mac was an avid Cardinal Football fan and a 14-year season ticket holder until they left St. Louis. He was a Cardinal Baseball fan his entire life. He served as an usher at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cape Girardeau. Mac enjoyed working out, riding his bike and having an immaculately clean car was a must.
Mac and Nancy moved to Frisco, Texas in 2014 to be closer to their grandchildren; Jake, McKenzie, Hunter, Bailey, and Taylor. He loved spending time with his grandkids and his grand dogs, KC, Brody, Whitley, and Montana. Mac never missed an opportunity to attend his grandkid’s activities including cheer, volleyball, baseball, basketball, football and choir performances. Mac dearly loved his kids and grandkids.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy Downs; children, Kimberly Pennel (Chad) of Frisco, Texas and Tyler Downs of Ft. Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Jake Pennel, McKenzie Downs, Hunter Pennel, Bailey Downs, and Taylor Pennel.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Jo Ann Downs; and brother, William Wayne Downs.
A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at his daughter’s home in Frisco, Texas. The Family requests that memorials take the form of donations in Mac’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or Gary Sinise Foundation.
We would like to thank our family and friends for their overwhelming love and support.