Stephen Hilary Downs, 48, died Wednesday, January 9, 2008, in Bardstown. He was born Dec. 15, 1959, in Louisville. He was a Nelson County native, a project manager and a crane operator for Taylor Welding Fabrication. He was a 1981 graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in accounting and was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife, Elaine Taylor Downs; two sons, Patrick William and Daniel Stephen Downs; and one daughter, Sarah Marie Downs; his mother, Helen Bennett Downs, of Bardstown; four brothers, Michael, David (Karen), Joseph (Paula) Downs and Bill McCloskey, all of Bardstown; three sisters, Harriett Ballard, Angela Ballard (Michael) and Teresa Newton (Stephen), all of Bardstown; and special friend, Cindy Tinnell, of Louisville.

Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Dominic Catholic Church, in Springfield, with burial in Holy Trinity Cemetery, in Fredericktown. The Rev. Culpepper Elliott and the Rev. Richard Edelen will officiate. Prayer services at 7 p.m. Thursday at Hale-Polin-Robinson Funeral Home, in Springfield, where friends may call after 2 p.m. Thursday. Pallbearers are Emerson Ballard, George Ballard Jr., Justin "Duke" Fletcher, Brandon Newton, Brandon Taylor and Lance Taylor. Honorary pallbearers are Michael Ballard, George Ballard, Jimmy Taylor, John Taylor, Dan Taylor, Billy Taylor, Martin Taylor, Stephen Newton, Bryce McCloskey and Lance McCloskey. Contributions: Stephen Downs Children's Education Fund.