Chelsea Downey

Chelsea Marie Downey passed away on Friday, January 30, 2015 at Good Samaritan Village in Loveland, Colorado after a brief illness. Chelsea Marie Lauer was born on March 13, 1927, in D Township, Seward County, Nebraska, near Gresham, to Fred H. and Stella Rea (Jones) Lauer. The family lived on her Grandmother Lauer’s farm and she attended the District 44, Hornberg School. She started school with her older sister Ruth, who was held back one-year so they would start school at the same time and be in the same grade. In September of 1936, when they were in the fifth grade, the family moved to Riverton, Wyoming. The girls attended school in Riverton and graduated with the class of 1944. During her high school years and shortly after her high school graduation, Chelsea worked at the Pioneer Drug Store in Riverton. In 1945, as part of the WW II war effort, Chelsea started nurses training at St. Luke’s Hospital in Denver Colorado. She graduated as an RN in 1948. It was there, as facilitated by Ruth Lauer and Chuck Downey that Chelsea met her future husband Dale Downey, who was returning to his Wyoming home via Denver after being discharged from the Navy. They were married in Denver on June 3, 1950. They made their home in Riverton, but due to Dale’s early work endeavors, traveled to several locations in the western US on temporary jobs and training for the FAA. It was during one trip to Kansas City, Missouri, that Chelsea was forced to learn to drive a car, a skill she never really mastered. Later, in the early and mid 1950’s, Chelsea worked at the Riverton Hospital as an RN, while Dale partnered with Robert J. Brown, in the operation of a gasoline station in Riverton. In 1958, Dale secured a permanent position with the FAA, and they resumed their nomadic life of working on short term projects at various installations including Casper, Cheyenne, and Sheridan Wyoming, and Denver Colorado. In 1960, Dale secured a permanent position with the FAA in Laramie Wyoming, and Chelsea worked in Laramie for a local doctor as an office nurse. In 1963, Dale was transferred to Gypsum Colorado, and Chelsea stayed at home to raise their two sons, Harold and Steve. In 1970, Dale was transferred by the FAA to Longmont Colorado, and they made their home in the nearby town of Berthoud, where they lived until 2010 when they moved to Good Samaritan Village in Loveland, Colorado. Dale and Chelsea both enjoyed working in their large garden and were avid square dancers and bowlers. They also enjoyed collecting antiques and had a large collection of Stouffer china. Chelsea enjoyed sewing and made all of her own beautiful square dance dresses. Chelsea is survived by her husband Dale of Loveland, their son Harold and his wife Amy of Richland Washington; their son Steve and his wife Barbara of Elk River, Minnesota; their four grandchildren and families: Christopher Downey and his wife Melissa Trainer and children Julian and Annalee of Silver Spring, Maryland; Jeffrey Downey and his wife Cindy Rueckert and children Devin and Brandon of Erie, Colorado; Mark Downey and his wife Kelly Charlton of Mukilteo, Washington; and Gabrielle Komorowski and husband Andrew Universal of Greenville, South Carolina. She is also survived by niece Armilda (Millie) Lauer and nephew John Lauer who are the children of Chelsea’s brother Donald Lauer. Chelsea also had a special relationship with Dale’s brother Charles (Chuck) Downey and his wife Charlotte of Wheatland, Wyoming, and their five daughters Angela, Colleen, Mary Jo, Erin, and Ginger. She also had a very special friendship with longtime Berthoud neighbors Robin and Lynn Hoffman. Over the past 5 years the staff at Good Samaritan became an important part of her extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Lois Carroll and Ruth Hughes, her brother Donald Lauer and nephews Mark and Clint Lauer. Burial and graveside services will be held on Wednesday, February 4th at 11:00 am at the Downey family section of the Dale Valley Cemetery near Merna, Nebraska. There will be a Memorial and Celebration of Life service in the Spiritual Life Center at Good Samaritan Village in Loveland, Colorado on Friday, February 8th at 11:00 am. The family wishes to express their love and appreciation to the staff of Good Samaritan Village. We also thank the staff of McKee Medical Center and Pathways Hospice of Loveland, Colorado for their kind and compassionate care. Memorials may be made to the Good Samaritan Society-Loveland Village at 2101 South Garfield Ave, Loveland Colorado 80537 or the charity of your choice.