Sylvia Downey was born on June 6, 1938, in Benton City, WA, to Jim and Karin Brown. Sylvia passed away on August 25, 2023, at the age of 85. Sylvia was born and raised in Benton City and graduated from Kiona-Benton High School in 1956. She went on to be a lab technician for General Electric, US Testing, Severn Trent and later retired from Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories in 1994. While working for Battelle she was loaned out to the Marine Sciences Laboratory in Sequim, WA. where she worked on two projects: one for Envirosphere of Seattle and the other for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Waterways Experiment Station. After retirement Sylvia became a volunteer at the Benton City Food Bank.

Sylvia was a caring woman who loved her family dearly. She loved holding and cuddling her kids, grandkids, great grandkids and any kid or baby in general. The family can’t find a picture of her without her hugging or holding someone. Sylvia enjoyed living on her farm where she tended her gardens and canned her goods, a skill she learned from her mother. She chased many loose cows and raised many peacocks, her beautiful white peacocks being the ones she was most proud of. In the early 1970’s Sylvia was instrumental in helping start the first women’s fast pitch softball team in Benton City. She was one of the pitchers, won many all-star awards and enjoyed many years of play. She also enjoyed going fishing and camping with her husband, kids and good friends. Sylvia enjoyed traveling and treasured her trips with her very dear friend Wanda. Sylvia had a wish to travel to her mother’s homeland in Sweden before she passed so her family was able to make that wish come true. In 2012 they took Sylvia to Ireland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, where she was able to visit the family’s homestead, Molinelund, and visit family she longed to meet.

Sylvia is survived by her children Jim (Julie) Downey, Karin (Scott) Flannery and Mike Downey, her brothers Bertil (Joyce) Brown, Jim (Joann) Brown and sister Janice Richardson, 8 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Jim Downey Sr, her son Pat Downey, her mother Karin Brown and her father Jim Brown Sr.

Graveside service for Sylvia will be held on Wednesday, September 6th, 3:00 PM at Evergreen Cemetery in Benton City, WA.