Connie, you are fondly in my prayers.
 K Shippey

Jim Downs was like a picture of God standing at the door with a big smile, calling us to His house, welcoming us in as part of His family. 

His warm, friendly smile and kind eyes welcomed and invited thousands, maybe millions, into the Crystal Cathedral and God’s presence.

Who knows how many lost, weary souls may have turned and walked the other way, had Jim not been standing there?

Matthew 5:16 encourages to, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Jim’s light shone brightly!


Jim Downs was a board member when I worked for the Ontario-Montclair School District. He was a honest, kind, humble, and gentle soul. It was always a joy to see Jim at the Ontario Released Time Education fundraisers. He was a genuinely nice human being. May the family find comfort in sweet memories and may his soul be at peace permanently resting in God's promise. I will always remember Jim Downs fondly. Thank you Jim, your inclusive kind heart mattered.
Lowanna M. Owens
Retired Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

We worked with Jim at the Crystal Cathedral, Shepherds Grove for over 25+ years as fellow ushers.  With Jim and Connie, God has faithful servants !  Jim demonstrated compassion, thoughtfulness, and leadership!  Every Sunday or during the days of the glories, we knew Jim would be there !  No amount of miles could keep him from doing what he enjoyed most.  Meeting people and leading them to Christ !  We have countless fond memories of days, nights, weekends, working to make people feel welcomed at church !  And we know he is smiling with the angels now with no more pain !  He is in his heavenly home he worked for so many years !  Jim we will always remember your phrase as began each Sunday, or day of a glory, " let's smile in them and smile them out !  We are so happy to have known you ! Our lives have been forever enriched !

Jim was the most awesome boss anyone could ever ask for he was patient, he was kind and very knowledgeable on all topics. He didn’t hesitate to share his stories,  I especially enjoyed stories of his family.  He will be truly missed.

God bless you and your family and help them through this very difficult time. 

It was such an honor and privilege to have worked with and known Jim.  Always a very kind man with such a joyful disposition you know truly came from God.  He will be dearly missed but Heaven has gained with his arrival in Heaven.  "Well done My good and faithful servant".  It is now time time to reap the rewards of your labor.  Your life will continue to have an impact on all you have touched.  Until we meet again!

It was a wonderful privilege to have known Jim Downs and to have been part of his life even if only for a brief period of time. Jim was an exceptional family man who showered his wife and kids with love and affection. But he did not stop there. He was a friend to all those he became associated with, particularly those whom he regarded as part of his church family. Ready to share his endless tales of life , his tremendous sense of humor kept all of us spellbound while in his presence.  Jim will be sorely missed by our Bible Study group particularly for his insightful comments on topics being discussed. 
We would like to extend our condolences to Connie and the family and pray for strength and comfort for them. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Jim was a wonderful, fun boss. I loved working with him at WUHSD. Great memories. Lucky to have met him and passed 8 years of being his Clerk 3.

Sending prayers for strength with my most heartfelt condolences. Jim is an extraordinary testament of faith and his memory will live on. 

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain..." (Rev 21:4)

Dear Connie and Family,

This is Diana Pena, I worked for Jim here at WUHSD when he was the supervisor of Purchasing.  I am so very sad to hear about Jim's passing.  I have been thinking about him as I just completed 23 years of service at WUHSD.  Jim would always give his staff a "Thank You" card on our anniversary/seniority date.  He was the epidemy  of a thoughtful and kind person/supervisor.  I feel like a ton of bricks hit my very saddened heart  today as I heard the news.  He was the very best supervisor I have ever had in almost forty (40) years of working in the private and school district arena combined.  He was intelligent, fair minded, hard working, kind, and best of all his awesome sense of humor was unlike no other.  

I will always remember when I first started working for him as a Purchasing Clerk II back in 1998, he pulled some good pranks, I mean some good ones!!  As long as we did our work and kept up with deadlines, he allowed us to listen to the radio and share some kicks and giggles among each other at times and when work was current.  Jim was and will always be One-In-Million!

Jim is a very SPECIAL Person and I will tell his Purchasing Team here at WUHSD of this very sad news (Delane, Janie, Gloria, etc.)
My only consolation is that Jim knew God as he always shared his faith and tickets for the Crystal Cathedral in Orange with his staff. He would suggest that we volunteer as ushers and then we would get free tickets.  However, if we could not help out, he would still give us tickets to share in his love for Jesus Christ our Savior.  I will never forget Jim B. Downs as he was a good, good man that will be greatly missed on earth.  However, I know God and his Angels are rejoicing now that He is Home with Jesus!

I leave with this final thought......I last saw Jim at the CASBO show maybe two (2) years ago.  And told him that I had received Jesus Christ in my heart.  He said:  "Good, Diana, That Means that 
I will See you in Heaven!"   

OBITUARY

James Beryl Downs

July 20, 1944 – April 24, 2021

Draper Mortuary

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