Howell "Chris" Downs

Howell “Chris” Coleman Downs, 73, passed away on October 27, 2015. Chris fought a hard and courageous battle with cancer and died peacefully at the Spirit Mountain Hospice House surrounded by his family.

Chris was born on December 25, 1941, to Mary Hester and David Downs, in Cato, Ark. His mother remarried Paul Tomkins, whom Chris fondly remembered and considered as his father.

The family lived on the family farm outside of Little Rock, Ark., before his father’s work moved the family to Detroit, Mich. Chris lived in Detroit for three years and when his older brother Dave joined the Navy, Chris decided to join the Navy also. He said he was tall for his age and so lied to the enlisting officer about his age (his mother later signed the enlistment papers), and he joined the Navy at the age of 17. He was a metal worker and achieved the rank of an E5. He did five tours of the West Pac and was in Cuba during the Bay of Pigs. He left the service after six years and was honorably discharged on March 17, 1959.

Upon being discharged he moved to Pasadena, Calif., and went to work for the City of Pasadena’s Water Dept. Chris made several trips to Wyoming and finally settled in Thermopolis, Wyo., in 1969. He worked the oil fields at Hamilton Dome until 1974 at which point he joined the Sheriff’s Department under Vince Hayes as a Deputy Sheriff. He went on to join the Thermopolis Police Department in 1976. He achieved the rank of Sargent and left the force in 1991 after 14 years of service. He worked briefly for Brink Electric and then relocated to Cody, Wyo. His motivation for moving to Cody was to be with the love of his life, best friend and soul mate, and wife Sharry. In Cody he worked for Filener Construction and then later Harris Trucking and Const. Co. until he retired.

Chris was a man of self-taught talents and hobbies. He loved going to the gun range and was an excellent marksman. He spent many hours reloading ammo not only for his guns but for friends. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and could catch his limit before the day was out. He never lost his love for motorcycles and ATV’s which there were countless trips riding the mountain trails. He was also very good at archery and participated until health issues arose and he couldn’t shoot anymore. Chris was an excellent cook and was teased that he missed his calling in life as a chef. He was an animal lover and was never without a dog. He leaves behind five furry children who will miss the car rides and the toast in the morning.

Chris and Sharry, enjoyed 23 years of their lives along with their children, Shawn (Natalie) Christler, Stormy (Tom) Mattson, and Sterling (Debra) Christler; 13 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Chris is preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers David and Edward Joe Downs and a sister Marilyn Downs Gonzales.

No services are planned for this time but there will be a celebration of life at a later date.