“Woody” Elwood Jay Dowding

 On February 15, 2018, after a brave battle fighting esophageal cancer, “Woody” Elwood Jay Dowding returned home to his Father in Heaven.

 Woody was born January 20, 1948 to Wanda Densley and Earl Dowding in Murray, Utah.    He was raised in Utah and at 11 years old moved to Dingle, Idaho with his three siblings, Dennis, LaRee, and Neal when his mom married Don Sparks.  Two more children were added to the family, Penni and Donald. He graduated from Bear Lake High School and attended college courses in Utah.

 On June 17, 1968 he married his high school sweetheart, the love of his life and best friend, Rhonda Bateman. Together, they created beautiful memories for over 50 years.  Later, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan, Utah temple.

 Woody was a devoted family man and found great pride and joy in his children and grandchildren’s lives and accomplishments. He loved his family deeply. He also had a great love for the game of baseball and coached for many years from peewee league through high school, influencing the lives of many young men. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a way of making everyone feel important.  Woody was an honest, hard-working, and loyal man whose life was dedicated to family.

 Woody was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in various callings through-out his life.

 He and Rhonda have 3 children:  Torri (Steven) Stewart Holmes, Brady (Heidi) Dowding, Matthew (Amanda) Dowding.  They have been blessed with 10 grandchildren: Shandri (Robert Blackburn), Colten (Tara) Wilcox, Nathaniel, Braelyn, Brennen, Ethan, Zach, Andrew, Hannah and Caleb and 5 great-grandchildren: Kaybri, Shyli, Jackson, Preslee and Cashlyn.

 Graveside services were held Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at the Montpelier, Idaho cemetery.