Darlene Koch

Darlene “Kay” Downing Koch, 81, passed away on September 1, 2026, at Carle Hospital in Urbana, Illinois. She was born on September 11, 1944, in El Dorado, Kansas. She will be remembered with love by those who knew her and by the family who held an important place in her heart.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert Evans and Mildred (Flathers) Evans, sister; Margie Maddox; her brothers, Cliff Evans and Guy Evans.

She is survived by her life partner Don Downing Sr., son, Donald Downing Jr., and Donald’s wife, Melissa; her daughter, Heather Williams, and Heather’s husband, Richard. Her love also continued through the next generations of her family, including her grandchildren Eathen Downing, Emma Downing, and Brandie Downing; Zachary Williams, Candace Anton, Trinity Williams, and Quentin Williams; and her great-grandchildren Jack Anton, Lincoln Anton, Zyaire Williams, and Oaklyn Williams. She is also survived by her sisters, Caroyln Tooker, and Diana Plott, and by many nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved very much.

Those who shared Kay’s life will remember her as a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt whose family connections formed a lasting part of her legacy. Her memory will live on in the lives of her children, in the generations that followed, and in the affection of the many relatives who mourn her passing and cherish her remembrance.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 414 S State St, Westville, Illinois 61883. A memorial service will follow at 12:00 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Westville. Please join Kay's family in sharing memories, pictures, and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com