Darlene Ann Downing

Darlene Ann Downing

Darlene Ann Downing went home to be with the Lord on September 16, 2009, with her family by her side. She was born in Eureka on October 28, 1933, to William and Marion Brown of Garberville. She is survived by her sister Deanne St. Laurent of Vancouver, WA, her brother Darrell Brown of Redway, CA, and her five children: Kevin and Cindy Downing of Anderson, Keith Downing, Karen and Ron Middleton, and Kim Downing all of Willow Creek, and Kelly and Arzu Downing of Salt Lake City, UT. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Anthony Salmon, Summer Salmon-Downing, Spencer Downing, Stacy Middleton, Shelly and Lyle Baldy Jr., and also by Brian Downing, Jennifer Larkins, and Rhonda Downing, whom she raised, as well as JR Larkins; she also has 9 great-grandchildren.

Darlene attended elementary school in Eureka before moving to Garberville, where she graduated from South Fork High School with honors in 1951. While in school, she participated in sports, CSF, and Cubs yearbook staff, and built a network of friends that she kept throughout her life. She married Robert Downing in 1951, and ultimately settled down in Willow Creek, which has been her home for the past 50 years.

While raising her five children, she took pride in also being a Sunday School teacher, Campfire Girl leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, and an avid member of the Klamath-Trinity community; she is proud to have served as an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and as PTA president, all the while helping to organize many events and local improvements that helped to shape our community.

Darlene spent most of her 29 years at the Klamath-Trinity School District helping students that needed just that extra bit of patience and attention. This was certainly her calling, as she could find the right mix of caring and persistence to help her students expand their knowledge, even in their most difficult moments. To some, Darlene was their shining light in a world without many bright points; she was more than just a special needs provider; to some, she was the only mother/grandmother figure in their lives. Her students knew that her caring extended beyond the school, as she often made the effort to send out post cards, letters, and friendly little notes and gifts to them during the summer months, just so they knew they were remembered and loved.

Darlene had the ability to connect with students’ families on a more personalized level, always trying to find alternative ways to make learning more fun and appealing for students. Every year she would purchase gifts for her students, and handed out stickers and prizes to those who accomplished something at school, and personalized them in hopes those little mementos would help their students find their way in life, or at least through the next little difficulty to come along.

She enjoyed watching local sports, rooting-on the kids even when her own family was not on the team. Those interests stayed with her throughout her life, and in recent years she also became an avid Humboldt Crabs Baseball fan, and coordinator of the regional spelling bee. She also loved working in her yard, camping, and most of all-doing arts and crafts with her students and great-grandchildren.

Darlene just adored organizing projects, and would purchase dozens of trinkets and treasures throughout her travels so that her little friends could make special gifts for birthdays, holidays, or simply to make someone’s day just a bit more special. She always went the extra mile to make sure each and every holiday was the most memorable one for all who attended. There was never a time when she forgot a birthday or left someone without a gift at Christmas; even when someone showed-up unexpectedly, Darlene would sneak away and return with a gift from her treasure chest of goodies.

Darlene wasn’t happy unless she was busy; she took-on additional duties at school, and liked watching after her flock of children at recess, and especially loved greeting the children with her bright smile as the busses arrived at school in the morning. She continued working full-time at school until nearly 76 years old, and very reluctantly decided to retire at the end of this year, saying she was “addicted” to her students.

She also had a quick wit, cheery sense of humor, and an unsinkable approach to life that brought joy to those that knew her. Even in her brief illness, Darlene still made sure that everyone around her was in good spirits, cracking jokes about the good-looking doctors, and finding ways to make light of the most difficult time in her life. Darlene was not only the best mother/grandmother anyone could ask for, but one of the most influential women in the lives of many who knew her. She was a person of integrity, character, spunk, generosity, and love. She had the ability to turn any bad situation into a mere mishap in a way that turned your spirits upward to help get you through your troubles.

There will be a ‘Celebration of Life’ potluck at Hoopa Elementary School on Saturday, September 26 from 1-3pm. The public is invited to attend to remember this contagiously cheerful lady.

Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard, click on obituaries.