It comes with heavy hearts of the passing of Donna Leona Downing on September 16, 2014 at the age of 75 at Royal Inland Hospital Kamloops, BC due to a brain aneurysm.
Mom was born on September 2, 1939 in Hamiota, Manitoba. She became a hairdresser at the age of 17 in Winnipeg then continued on to Calgary, Alberta to work as a hairdresser until she went back to school to do her office and medical training to become a unit clerk. Through the years mom worked as a unit / office clerk in various hospitals in Calgary, Alberta, Brandon, Manitoba, Nanaimo, BC and finally in Enderby, BC.
She is survived by her husband Gordon of 35 years, her children Tim (Barb) Payne, Randy (George) Payne, & Loreana (Jan) Payne-Kuntz. Her step children Crystal (George) Butcher, Joe (Alyson) Downing & Kim (Billy) Morrow. Grand children Joel, Erickson, Kaitlyn, Clayton, Jeff, Trina, Arthur, Grayson, Bobby, Alex and Hayden and six precious great grand children. And finally but not least big brother Ed ( Betty) Pulver.
Welcoming Mom in the next step of life’s journey is her mother Dorthy Pulver, brother Len Pulver and sister Deanna Lowe.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother but most of all she was our best friend who always had our backs. She was a dynamo of a woman with a zest for life, which showed even more in the last few months after she suffered her first brain aneurysm. Besides the love for her family she had a love for her gardens, oil painting, knitting, crocheting and her games (her grandchildren grew up playing video games with her). She looked forward to her mornings and afternoons bowling both in Salmon Arm and Chase even if she didn’t bowl well that day. It was more about the fun of being out and enjoying life with her friends. Mom’s favorite time of year was when spring time came so she could go and do the things she loved to do most, camping and fishing with Gord, family and good friends.
At her request there is no service at this time with the family planning one last camping and fishing trip in her honour next spring to celebrate the person and gift she was to us all.
We raise our glass of wine and put out our fishing lines in your honour mom, you will be so dearly missed but always with us.