Obituary of Beverly Ann Downey

Beverly Ann (Mitchell) Downey September 22, 1930 - December 31, 2017 On December 31, 2017, Beverly Ann Downey, resident of Santa Cruz, California, passed to the stars and into the company of her husband, Charles. Beverly Ann Mitchell was born in Boulder, CO, and lived most of her childhood there before moving permanently to San Francisco, CA, where she graduated from George Washington High School in 1948. The Mitchells are a pioneer Colorado family and many of Beverly's close relatives are buried in the Columbia (aka "Pioneer") Cemetery. Her Uncle, Billy, was instrumental in the construction of the iconic Boulder Courthouse, which is a prominent landmark along the Boulder Mall. After high school, Beverly worked as bookkeeper for AP Giannini, founder of the Bank of Italy, which became what we now know as Bank of America. In 1959, she met her future husband, Charles, and they were married in 1960 at First Presbyterian Church, in San Francisco, CA. She was a devoted mother to her three children and was active in their upbringing as well as a life-long mentor after their childhoods. She was the backbone for her husband and supported all of his career and social/philanthropic endeavors, especially the Rotary Club of Santa Cruz, and the Dominican Hospital Foundation. Beverly was a witty person with a dry sense of humor. When Charles presented her with a beautiful yellow convertible one year at Christmas, she decided to get custom plates for the car which read: BAD LOL (bad little old lady)! Beverly cared deeply for all of the friends of her children and became a second mother to many of them. She often had them over to play or for dinner, provided transportation when needed from elementary school through high school and beyond, and immensely enjoyed their company as they grew into young adults, and then had families. Beverly was very proud of all her childrens' friends. She is preceded in death by her brothers, Gene and Donald Mitchell, sisters Shirley Smith and Barbara Mitchell, and her husband Charles. She is survived by her three children, Jeff Downey, of Henderson, NV, Kathy and Carol Downey, both of Santa Cruz, CA, nephew Doug Mitchell, of Thornton, CO, niece Connie Beagley, of Holly Springs NC, and her best friend, Joan Gibson, of Gainesville, FL, and several great nephews and nieces. Services will be on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Hindquarter Bar and Grill, 303 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz at 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, kindly feel free to donate to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz Rotary Foundation or the Dominican Hospital Foundation.