William Douglas 'Bill' Downing

William Douglas "Bill" Downing February 27, 1928 - September 6, 2021 Dad recently made a peaceful exit from this life. Unquestionably a Toronto lad for his first 90 innings but strategically played his last 4 on the West Coast, close to his children. Dad was blessed with a long, lucky life despite the cheat of Alzheimer's and the final nudge from Covid 19. Remarkably, as his world continued to shrink in the final years, he was still game to compete at Cribbage, play many bars of long-ago memorized music on the piano, walk with assistance to nearby parkettes, enjoy bird sightings and conduct himself with kindness. Dad worked hard to complete high school, and he worked hard as a self-employed, travelling salesman to support our family. Perhaps his greatest legacy to the family are memories of our summer cottage life spanning more than 60 years at Wood Lake, Muskoka. Dad was successful at acquiring the most beautiful point of MacBeth Island when the entire island was opened for sale, circa 1950. He sold his first car to make the payment. There is a photo of Dad and Mum at the point in the early 1950's. The rustic family cabin was built with hand tools by Dad, his friends and father-in-law. Given the island setting, Dad coached us at operating an evolving fleet of watercraft; bailing and engine-whispering often required. Dad built our first sailboat (a blue jay dinghy), our water skis, tree swings. He taught us to sail, fish, and paddle the canoe. There is a posted photo of Dad sailing as recently as 2011 at age 83. Dad's early roots at the Lake and his social involvement in the growing cottage community helped to make our years there so grounding and memorable. Dad was competitive in all kinds of games throughout his life. In Scarborough we played ravine baseball & football and weekly badminton together. He enjoyed the camaraderie at the community tennis court and his regular golfing and curling buddies. He played cribbage, monopoly, stock-ticker, bridge, bus stop, wizard. He loved slapstick humour…. "Who's on first…" and delightedly attended the Toronto-based fan club of Laurel and Hardy during the 1980's. Dad was an avid birdwatcher since boyhood, a member of the Pickering Field Naturalists. He maintained a circuit of bluebird boxes between home and the cottage and travelled several times to Costa Rica on adventurous birding trips. He loved diarizing his bird sightings on his word processor. Dad's retirement was blessed with freedom and talent for high level artistic accomplishment. He turned his attention from landscape oil painting to wood carving. After taking many workshops he began creating some absolutely gorgeous life-sized models of birds. He was unquestionably a gifted bird carver. When Dad moved west, his sizeable flock of carvings also migrated and became the focal point of his living room. He kept his binocs and bird book on the table beside his easy chair. Dad was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Earla May Kear (2014), and his older brother, John Robert "Jack" (2014) and sister-in-law, Evelyn Downing (2016) of Shelburne Ont. He is survived by his adopted children Karen James (David) of Victoria BC and Colin (Lisa) of Maple Ridge BC, five granddaughters: Deanna, Caroline, Brenna, Gwendolyn and Sharlene, and 2 step-grandchildren: Kristin and Paul. "Thank you for all that you shared with us Dad/Grandpa/Bill. You and Mum/Grandma/Earla certainly encouraged our creativity, perseverance and set lifelong examples of carefully saving for future security." The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the dear folk in Greater Toronto who supported Dad in his home. In Victoria BC, we are similarly grateful to the Renaissance Retirement Residence, the nearby community of businesses along Esquimalt Road, his sporting companion Kim Coulter with Van Isle Home Care, the VIHA home care staff and ultimately, the staff of Salvation Army‘s Sunset Lodge for their collective kindnesses and respect for the Aged. Dad hosted a farewell party 3 years ago when the Scarborough house was put onto the market. Dad's remains were cremated, a small grave-side service will occur in Toronto at a future date, likely next year. In lieu of flowers please consider a thoughtful service to someone in your community.