Everett "Frenchy" Downey

Albion: Everett "Frenchy" Downey, age 96 passed away October 28, 2026. He was born May 25, 1930 in Albion to the late Jesse and Edith (Adams) Downey.

Frenchy and Dorothy operated Frenchy's TV & Appliance from 1961 to 2024. He received the Paul Harris award in Rotary, sang in a barbershop quartet (they won national awards), belonged to the Quiet Birdman's Society, Experimental Aircraft Association, and he supported the local airports like Gaines Valley and Pine Hill. He became fascinated by aviation while he was farming. Ultimately he and friend Bill Woolston purchased an airplane while they were getting their licenses. He then built his own airport and later another airplane through his annual trips to the Oshkosh Air Shows in Wisconsin. There, he became acquainted with Bill Lishman who was doing a goose migration experiment which led to his airport being used for "Operation Migration". "60 Minutes" arrived to film and later a movie was made honoring this experiment.

In addition to his parents, Frenchy was predeceased by his wife Dorothy (Heldreth) in 2005, son Michael, brothers, and sisters-in-law Clyde and Avis Downey and Keith and Anne Downey.

Frenchy is survived by his children, Cindy (Mike) Troy, Bill (Anne) Downey, daughter-in-law Tina Downey, grandchildren Ben Downey, Lauren (Harvey) Rayner, Jeremy Downey, Jesse Downey, Megan (Sean) Perkins, Elissa (Jeremy) Rowley, John (Amy Beales) Troy, Lindsey Downey, several great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Frenchy's family will receive friends at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home 21 West Ave. Albion, NY 14411 on Thursday November 12th from 3:00-6:00pm where his memorial service will follow at 6:00pm. The family would like to extend a special thank you to those of the North Wing and Hospice of Orleans for the care they provided Frenchy.

Memorial contributions in Frenchy's name may be made to the Medina Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility 200 Ohio St. Medina, NY 14103, Hospice of Orleans 14080 Route 31 Albion, NY 14411 or the Gaines Valley Airport.

To share a special memory of Frenchy, please visit www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.com.