Richard James Davidson "Ric" Downing

Richard "Ric" James Davidson Downing

December 26, 1951 - April 16, 2024

GRAND ISLAND - Ric was born in Grand Island, Nebraska and raised by two wonderful parents, Donna Davidson (Schlund) and Robert Davidson, alongside his three sisters, Susan, Robyn, and Lori, and his brother Michael. His love of wild things started young, taking in animals, from an alligator that lived in his grandparents bathtub, to a crow named Joe that rode on the hood of his car. There wasn't an animal out there that he didn't love. Thanks to grandparents, Margaret and Harold Schlund, of Cairo, and Boy Scouts, he also learned to hunt game, fowl and fish, and learned the value of conservation. Ric was an Eagle Scout, and the skills he learned as a scout stayed with him his entire life. The family moved to Colorado for a time where Ric fell in love with the mountains and desert as well. After high school, he packed his bag and moved west to Portland where he worked for the US Forest Service in the Columbia Gorge. That job brought him to Wallowa, where his sons Joshua and Tanawah were born in the backcountry while he was fighting fire and logging from horseback. His respect for wild places very much grew with his time in Wallowa. Nebraska remained home though, and in 1982, he ended up back in Grand Island where he met the love of his life, Cindy Lambert. They married on Valentine's Day of 1983 and moved for a short time to Ventura, California, then, on a whim, landed in Orofino, Idaho, in late 1983, where they fell in love with the rivers and mountains. Ric worked for the Forest Service on the North Fork for the first few years in Idaho, but with the arrival of his daughter, Desirae, and third son, Aaron, being closer to his family became even more important and he began his career with Idaho Department of Fish and Game, where he would spend the rest of his career. IDFG allowed him to prioritize his family while instilling a conservation mindset in his kids. You'd often find his kids beside him as he did surveys, took samples and conducted research. There was nothing he loved more than being with his family, and was always the first to volunteer to coach little league or go along on a field trip. A true sportsman, he never missed an elk camp or a salmon season, and neither did his kids. He loved teaching conservation and sportsmanship, and was always happy to host friends from near and far at Elk Camp. When the kids were grown, Ric and Cindy retired and began their annual spring trips to the Utah desert and winters to Latin and Central America. There was never an adventure that they would turn down, and were always so happy when their children or grandchildren came along. Late in life, Ric's grand kids were his pride and joy. The kids love PopPop and Grammy's house, where outside there is always something to explore, forage or chase and inside there is always an abundance of love and sweet snacks.

Ric is survived by the love of his life: Cindy, his sister: Susan Sandoval (Jay), his brother: Mike Davidson (Norma Graves), sons: Joshua (Nundu), Tanawah and Aaron (Casey), daughter: Desirae Downing-Haag (Justin), and grandchildren: Chadoe, Syringa, Hunter, Kai, Talyah, Brielle, Connor, Sawyer and Trevyn.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a conservation non profit of your choice, and/or spend a little extra time with the people you love in a wild place.