John Downs

John R. "Jay" Downs, 73, of Chillicothe, passed peacefully at home on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. ending his battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Jay was born on October 6, 1947, BEFORE his parents could get to the hospital in Centralia, Washington, from their home in Neah Bay. He was the second child of Morgan Leo and Anna Lillian (Salsbury) Downs.
Jay enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at the age of 17, served 3 tours in Vietnam, and completed his 20-year career in 1985. He then settled in Ohio and began a second 20-year career as the senior electrical trades instructor at Pickaway-Ross Vocational School. Upon his second retirement, he and his wife decided to travel full-time in their motorhome. For 13 years they enjoyed opportunities from Maine to Florida to Montana and made many good friends along the way.
Working part-time assisting campground owners gave Jay the chance to continue a passion he shared with his mother – birdwatching! For over 50 years he has reported bird counts and sightings to Cornell University as part of their Feeder Watch program.
Jay will be sadly missed by his wife, Rhonda; son Blake (Kim) Smallridge, Chillicothe; daughter, April Downs (Justin Crawford), Stanley, North Carolina; mother-in-law, Gloria Cline, Chillicothe; father-in-law, Harold (Susann) Cline, Jackson; sister-in-law, Loretta Hansel, Chillicothe; sisters, Laurel McNeal and Penny (Rocky) Rush, Lacey, Washington, and Dawn Still (Alan) Carothers, Torrance, California; granddaughters, Erika Malone (Scott Shepherd) and Abbi Malone, Chillicothe; and great-grandson, Allen Shepherd. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Theron "Terry" Downs.
In honor of Jay's request, there will be no calling hours or memorial services. Cremation services are under the direction of Haller Funeral Home.

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