Jessica Jean DeWitt, 50 years, of Fort Madison, Iowa died Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Fort Madison, Iowa. She was born July 9, 1973 at Fort Madison, Iowa, a daughter of Dean DeWitt and Ann (Kinney) Cahoon. She married John Downey, they later divorced.
She was a 1991 graduate of Fort Madison High School. She was a homemaker. She loved cooking and baking, especially chicken enchiladas, chili, spaghetti and Grandma June’s goulash. She enjoyed pro wrestling, music, bingo games on her phone, drawing, coloring and angels. She was a huge New Orleans Saints fan. Family was so important to her, especially her sons, she was their biggest cheerleader at all their events. She was a “Marine Mom” and constantly supported her son throughout his enlistment. One of her dreams was to fly out to Hawaii and visit her son on base, explore the island, and eat at a vintage Vietnamese pho restaurant.
She is survived by her parents: Dean (Jody) DeWitt and Ann Cahoon, all of Fort Madison, Iowa; sons: Daniel Downey (Taija Hewett) of Farmington, Iowa and Cpl. David Downey of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Siblings: Thomas Raines (Chyanne Rhoer), of Fort Madison, Iowa; Joshua (Erica) DeWitt, of Aberdeen, Maryland; Sean Raines (Kristi Black), of Tuscan, Arizona; Cody (Katrina) Raines, of Donnellson, Iowa; Jessica Simerl, of Fulton, Missouri and Adam (Traci) Mack, of Fort Madison, Iowa and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Dylan Pugliese; brothers, Justin DeWitt and Devin Royer; father, Kevin “Pops” Cahoon, grandparents: Charles and Melva Jean DeWitt and Bessie June Kinney.
Jessica’s family will greet friends from 5:00 to 6:30 pm Monday, July 31, 2023 at the Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison, Iowa, concluding with a time of reflection at 6:30 pm Monday evening. Barr Memorial Chapel is honored to serve the Jessica DeWitt family and an online guest book may be found at www.barrmemorialchapel.com.
