Harold Earl Downing

He grew up in Everett with parents Albert and Emely Downing, attending Longfellow Elementary, South Junior High and Everett High School graduating in 1945. He served in the US Army stationed at Fort Lewis. Following military discharge he married his high school sweetheart Jane Knapp in August 1947. They were married for 66 years until her passing in 2013. Together they raised a family of three children, Bonnie, Ronald and Kevin, in the View Ridge neighborhood. He later married Kitty Brown and they enjoyed 11 years of marriage.

His working career began as a journeyman meat cutter at Hausmanns and later included sales work with them. Several years later he was recruited by New York Life as a field underwriter, followed by a promotion to training supervisor. During this time, he earned credentials as a CLU certified life underwriter and CFU certified financial underwriter.

Outside of work, he enjoyed his family life including many summer vacations in tent and trailer to local and national parks, and traveling around the world. Card games and hobbies were of special interest all of his life and he had fun learning and teaching others. He was artistic and created many treasured items including wooden puzzles, stained glass décor and puka shell jewelry with shells he gathered on the beaches of Maui while vacationing there for many years with Jane. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandpa of seven, and great grandpa of five.

He was loved by his family and will be missed.