The Smith Family Story:
The Downey Family Habitat Home Sponsorship

The family of Carla Smith gathered together and hoped to build a home for Olivian and her grandchildren in hopes of keeping the children together and out of foster care. Hope was all that was left from this horrible event.

Tim and Gert Downey on their wedding day.	The ten Downey children from right to left: Tim, Tom, Jim, John Mike, Mary Cay, Jan, Jerry Joe, Judy, Pat, and Joan.

The Downey House at 127 E. Center is where Tim Downey was raised and later Tim and Gert Downey raised their ten children. A watercolor painting of the Downey House by Val Persoon was given to Gert & Tim for Christmas 1984 by daughter Mary Cay and her husband Mike VanNuland.
Years earlier, a large family grew up in a boarding house on Center Street in Butte, Montana, an Irish Catholic stronghold. Tim and Gert Downey raised their ten children in the house originally built for single miners. They created a new foundation of Faith, Hope and Love for this seven-bedroom brick house. Although Tim died 20 years ago, Gert and her family - which includes 27 grandchildren and four ½ great-grandchildren - carry on Tim's generous spirit and example. While they no longer live in the big house at 127 Center Street, they continue their family traditions and fondly remember their times in the Downey Home. In gratitude for all the Downey children owning their own homes - and in recognition of everyone's need for a home - Gert gathered her family together for her 75th birthday. Instead of gifts and in thanksgiving for the many years of living in the Downey Home, she asked her family and friends to help sponsor a Habitat House for this deserving Smith Family.

Rick Lyons, Wendy, Tom and Levi Downey, Jim and Julie Downey, and Katie Downey are eager to start the day of building the Smith Home.	Jim and Tom Downey go over blueprints with Barbara Miller.
Bill, Jared, and Brian Geer are assisted by a member of RHR Construction. They measured twice and gave Julie Downey, on the saw in the background, the measurements to cut the boards. A big Thank You goes out to the boys at RHR Construction that just showed up and volunteered to help us.	Rick Lyons, standing, watches as Tom and Jim Downey are placing boards in the frame of the sidewall.
Teamwork gets another wall up.	A group of gals hold up an outside wall. Way to go girls!!
Gert Downey, Olivian Smith's other daughter, Gail, Brian Geer, Wendy Downey, Olivian Smith, and Katie Downey enjoy the nice day before getting to work.	Rick Lyons directs the guys in standing a wall.
Gail, Olivian Smith, Gail's daughter Courtney, and in front is Eva Smith, Olivian Smith's granddaughter for whom the house is being built.	Judy Geer and Barbara Miller enjoy lunch before the crew takes a break.
Meg Downey, center, lifts a window as Mary Cay VanNuland looks on.	Joan Lyons, left, Mary Cay VanNuland and Meg Downey unload windows in the summer of 2006.
Meg Downey and Mary Cay VanNuland balance a window while waiting to install it.	Bridgette LeBer, left center, and Tom Downey sort 2x4's while two others set studs for an interior wall.
Mike and Peter VanNuland are ready to go!!	Mike and Peter VanNuland prepare to cut 2x4's for an interior wall.
Tim Downey, on the ground, looks on as his dad, Jerry Joe, and Rick Lyons work to frame a window.	Jerry Joe Downey, on the ladder, and Rick Lyons prepare the rough opening for setting in a window.
Wendy and Tom Downey join David Weeks, right, for a break.	Joan and Rick Lyons, joined by their daughter, Mary Beth Lyons (on the ladder) and Meg Downey, right, take a break on window framing day.
A work crew headed up by Gert Downey, left, spend the day framing windows for the Smith House.	Mary Beth Lyons, front, is joined by David Weeks, Carey Downey, Gert Downey, Jared Geer, and Bridgette LeBer in middle row. Peter, Mary Cay, and Mike VanNuland in back row.
Carey Downey shovels gravel for a porch foundation.	Mary Cay VanNuland, left and Tom Downey, right, are assisted in cutting a board.
Tom Downey is ready to go with a saw. A big Thank You goes out to Tom's office as they also had a work day at the Smith House.	Mary Beth Downey and her grandmother Gert Downey stand with Olivian Smith (in red). Gert Downey spearheaded the Downey Family sponsorship.
Carey Downey and Joan Lyons shovel gravel for the porch foundation as Mary Beth Lyons stands nearby ready to help. Bridgette LeBer is in the doorway as Jerry Downey and David Weeks are in the background.	Members of the Smith Family stand by their newly framed house with Habitat Construction Supervisor Roxanne DeWitt.
Side view of the Smith house after siding.	The exterior of the Smith House nears completion.
Final touches are added to the front porch.	Olivian Smith and family add their things.
Lighting is complete and finishing touches are added.	Oh, a warm fireplace for the winter!
Move in complete in spring of 2007.	Gert Downey and Olivian Smith share a smiling moment on the porch of the new home. Julie Downey made a welcome wreath for the home and gave it to the Smith's on the day they had the home blessed.