Joanne Shirley Downs (Olson), age 75, died June 30, 2011 in the company of her daughters at the Vashon Community Care Center. Joanne was born on March 13, 1936 to Paul and Lena Faye Olson in West Seattle. She attended West Seattle High School and Stanford University. While at Stanford she met Bertram Wilson Downs, whom she married in 1956. Joanne and Bert had three daughters Cathy, Diana, and Jennie, whom they raised in Boulder, Colorado. Bert and Joanne enjoyed a happy marriage until Bert’s death in 1994.
Vashon Island had been near to Joanne’s heart since her childhood. She exposed her family to the joys of island life during summer visits over the years and made
Vashon Island her permanent residence in 1997, after the death of her husband.
In addition to raising her family, Joanne enjoyed music, animals and academic enrichment. Joanne played the piano and organ for her own enjoyment and that of others. She was her church’s organist and a piano accompanist for ballet classes over many years in Boulder, Colorado and more recently on Vashon. Her love of animals drove her longtime personal involvement in showing dogs and horses as well as providing in-struction in dog obedience to both adults and children.
Joanne was a proud and loving parent. She instilled in her daughters the confidence to pursue their individual passions, the ability to face obstacles and the courage to overcome them. She will be remembered as an animal lover, an active church member, a caring friend, a loving parent and a strong, self?sufficient woman. Joanne was a unique individual and she will be greatly missed.
Joanne is survived by her three daughters: Cathy Nicholson of Dane, Wisconsin; Diana Escalante of Madison, Wisconsin; and Jennifer Man of Saint Paul, Minnesota and by her sister, Karen Miller of Hansville, Washington.
A private family service was held. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Vashon Community Care would be appreciated (www.vashoncommunitycare.org).
Please visit our online guestbook at www.islandfuneral.com.
Paid Obituary
