Marian Downes was born in Toledo, Ohio on November 23rd, 1922 to Charles Attwood and Florence Almendinger Attwood. She had 3 brothers: Jim, Bill, and Warren. Marian was raised in Wayne, Michigan and graduated from Wayne Memorial High School's class of 1939. She was a lover of music, art, and fashion and started making her own clothes while in High School. She also played the Saxaphone and sang in a jazz band in Detroit. Marian attended University of Michigan but left after several semesters to help in the war effort by creating mechanical drawings for Stinson Aircraft Company. When the war ended she pursued a degree in fashion design at the Chicago School of Design, where she met the love of her life, Leonard Downes. Marian captured his heart playing footsie in a movie house balcony and by cooking him a dinner of pork chops and apple pie. They were married in 1947 and lived in Chicago, both working in the garment district. Lynn was born in 1949 followed by Charley in 1951. Life was a good and they enjoyed their time and memories in Chicago. In the early 50's Lenny was in a car accident which incapacitated him for several years. Marian took her family back to Wayne to be close to family and worked at her fathers business, Unistrut, as a commercial artist while Lenny healed. When he got better, Len joined Unistrut as a mechanical engineer. Holly was then born in 1956. Marian loved to create, refinish, and refurbish. She sewed clothes for herself and her daughters, salvaged and refinished one of the Lutheran Church doors for her home, upholstered furniture, painted and wall papered (does anyone remember the flocked leopard papered bathroom and Charley's black bedroom?). She made her home unique. She was also active in the Wayne Historical Society, Wayne Art and Garden Club, the Literary Society, Couples Club, and the Merry Eights. She and her sisters-in-law would often create elaborate crafts for the Christmas bazaar at the Congregational Church and table setting demonstrations for the Women's Club. Marian retired from Unistrut in 1971. After retirement, she and Lenny loved to travel, taking many trips with family and friends to South America (where they were caught on a boat in a tropical storm), the Caribbean (where they dove for conch), Russia, Europe (to visit Holly during her studies in France and taking a romantic drive through Spain) and China. They finally bought a condo in Bonita Springs Florida in 1885 and fully retired there in the early 2000s. Marian loved walking on the beach, socializing with friends and family, and continuing her love of designing and making her own clothes.