Kathleen Mary Bywater was the daughter of Walter William Bywater and Amy Florence Mould.

Kathleen was born on Thursday 9 February 1911 in Northfield, Birmingham, Warwickshire.

Kathleen married Francis Downes in 1934 in Birmingham, Warwickshire.

She had the following children from her marriage to Francis Downes:

- Robert M. Downes	born in 1935 at Birmingham, Warwickshire.
- Ian C. Downes	born in 1936 at Birmingham, Warwickshire.
- Richard G. Downes	born in 1939 at Birmingham, Warwickshire.

Kathleen died on Saturday 21 June 2003 in Australia.