Barbara Louise Downey Ketchie
February 11, 1930 – May 6, 2026
Barbara Louise Downey Ketchie passed away Wednesday evening, May 6th. She was 96.
Barbara was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 11, 1930. Her father and his twin brother had moved to Detroit, from Tennessee, in search of work during the Great Depression. That’s where Barbara’s father would meet and marry her mother. Barbara would be an only child. After several years in Detroit the family, and her now uncle, relocated back to Tennessee, settling in Nashville. The brothers would find work there in a laundry facility. Times were hard during those years, but for Barbara, she just knew the love of her hard working parents. The family moved within Tennessee a number of times during her early years, making Barbara a perpetual “new kid on the block”, leaving friendships behind, as new opportunities became available for her father as he progressed within the laundry industry. During those same years her uncle had moved to Hickory, North Carolina, beginning his own laundry business there and, after a period of time, Barbara’s father would join his brother to help with his new business, first in Asheville, and then in Lenoir. After a couple of years in those towns, Barbara and her parents would then finally settle in a home in Hickory just before her high school years began once the Hickory Steam Laundry was established. The laundry handled industrial scale cleaning, along with serving residential clients, and became a well known, very successful business. Now settled in her “forever home” Barbara could finally spread her wings, participating in numerous high school activities, community events and civic opportunities. She became very popular with her many friends and ultimately became President of the Junior Women’s League of Hickory. After finishing up her schooling she found herself working at the laundry helping to run the family business. It was at the laundry that she would meet the love of her life.
A young salesman working for a chemical company in Memphis, Tennessee had just been given an opportunity to take over a sales territory in North Carolina, the state that he grew up in. As he was being introduce to clients in his new territory, he walked through the doors of the Hickory Steam Laundry where he would first see Barbara working away. Apparently, she made quite an impression on him and with Christmas just a few weeks away he manage to get himself invited to the company Christmas party, and then to the New Year’s Eve Party a week later. He tells the story of having quite a few drinks during these parties because he noticed that Barbara always had a drink in her hand. He would find out later it was actually just ginger ale. Within a month, by the end of January 1954, he proposed to Barbara and she said yes to the 25 year old Homer Ketchie. The wedding took place on August 29, 1954.
The young couple set up home in Charlotte where Homer’s office was. A year later they welcomed their first son. Son number two would come two years later, and her family became her abiding love. It was the 1960’s, and raising two boys brought both tears and many smiles. Work was an opportunity back then, one could grow with a company, and fill life with adventures. And Homer took Barbara on many, many adventures. She saw a lot of the United States from a station wagon and a pop up camper; beautiful National Parks and random spots along the roadways. There were company parties and conventions, house parties and neighborhood block parties. And later, they would travel to destinations all around the world.
Barbara loved music and dreamed memories of the big bands and the dancing that went with it. She made CDs of her favorite songs and gave them to her friends. She would quickly say yes to any game of bridge. And she remained devoted to her beloved Church of Christ, hardly missing a Sunday service.
The 70s, 80s, 90s and into a new century, she faced every changing moment with a uniquely positive attitude and a quiet calm. She made it easy for her family to be around her at any time.
Retirement years brought Barbara and Homer to Blowing Rock where she reveled in her love of the mountains, and the small town charm.
In her 90s, she did not slow down much at all. As ever, she found more new friends in a retirement community that seemed like a neighborhood filled with good friends, all sharing stories and adventures.
In 2024 she celebrated her 70th wedding anniversary with Homer in a Blowing Rock Fourth of July Parade float, receiving loud cheers and shout outs from the crowds as they passed by.
Barbara had a good life. And it was wrapped in that pure goodness that her journey came to an end. She had her family by her bedside; there were smiles, stories, reminiscing and silence. She even ate everything on her plate for lunch that day. It was a happy time. She would die a few hours later, peacefully in her sleep.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Mable and Lloyd Downey, and uncle Claude Downey
Barbara is survived by her two sons Ken and Chuck, grandson Jon Taylor and her husband of 72 years, Homer Ketchie
. . . and the memories she has shared with so many people.
You must be logged in to post a comment.