Francis Everett Downing Jr., 68, died Nov. 21, 2009 in Lincoln City, Ore.

He was born Aug. 15, 1941 to Francis and Elizabeth Downing in Glendale, Calif., and grew up in Ventura, Calif. with his sister, Susie.

Shortly after high school graduation, at 19, he met Frances, and the two were married. In 1964, their first child, Steve, was born, and then daughter, Sheryl, was born 18 months later. The family lived in Burbank, Calif. and Downing worked at J.C. Penney. In 1970, they moved to Glendora, Calif., where he continued his retail career.

In the 1980s, he purchased That Yogurt Place in La Verne, Calif., which he enjoyed because it allowed him to do what he loved best - to talk and be with people. His grandchildren, Dominique and Nicollette, were born in 1988, and six years later, granddaughter Elizabeth Downing was born. In 2000, his last grandchild, Vincenzo Faught, was born. He sold the business in the 1990s and became a real estate agent. He worked for ReMax Masters in Glendora, Calif. and enjoyed meeting new people and made many friends. He decided to retire and move to the Oregon coast in May 2007 to be near his daughter.

After retiring, he missed talking and being with the public, so he went to work for Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City until he became ill in mid-2009.

A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Covina Hills, Calif.

Affordable Burial and Cremation in Lincoln City is handling arrangements.



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