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Eli Adrian Downs passed away after a sudden illness on Saturday, October 20, 2018. He was born to Jim and Valerie Downs on December 28, 1982. He was the last of six children. He attended schools at the Ephrata School District, graduating from Ephrata High School in 2001.

In 2001, he enlisted in the Air Force and following boot camp was accepted to the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal - Bomb tech). He completed the program and graduated, coming in close to the top of his class. Eli served six years in the Air Force before returning to civilian life and Washington state.

He married Heather Irvine in 2003 and they had four beautiful children together. Although the marriage dissolved, the most important thing in Eli’s life was his children. He loved being their dad.

Eli enjoyed hunting and fishing and learning. He had a keen sense of humor and loved to pull pranks. He was helpful and thoughtful and happiest when he could do things for others. He enjoyed finding a way to make a project work and thinking outside the box. He loved watching baseball and was a huge Dodgers fan.

At the time of his death he was enrolled in the American Military University. He had already earned his BA and was working towards his master’s degree and moving on to his doctorate.

Eli is survived by his mother, Valerie Downs; stepfather, Pat Franklin; brothers: Nathan (Amanda) Downs, Tyson (Jenny) Downs; sisters: Jayma (Jeff) Mears, Bryanna (Scott) Elliott and Tristan (Blake) Meyers; children: James Eli Downs, Rosie M. Downs, S. Livvy Downs, and Henry S. Downs; grandfather, Lee Downs; as well as countless aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, James William Downs; brother-in-law, Jeff Mears, maternal grandparents, Henry and Margaret Bosch; paternal grandmother, Mary Downsl aunts: Renee Knight, Merry Bosch; uncles: Gerald Bosch and Paul Bosch.

He will be missed by many.