Sarah Valerie Bosch Downs Franklin passed away February 1, 2022. She slipped into a coma in her sleep on Wednesday January 19, 2022 and did not awaken. Valerie was born to Henry and Margaret Bosch May 29, 1954 in Richland, Washington. Valerie was born a twin and she loved being a twin with her brother Paul. Their twin bond was always strong. She had 6 siblings, Renee (Robert) Knight, Gerald (Beverly) Bosch, Jackie (Mike) Rossetti, Paul (Alyce) Bosch,
Merry Bosch, Amy (James) Staples and a half sister Darlene (Clyde) Mortensen. She grew up in Richland, Washington and attended Columbia River High School until the death of her father in 1970, when the family moved to Provo, Utah. Valerie met her High School sweetheart James William Downs at a church dance. She graduated from Provo High School in 1972. Jim and Valerie married at the young age of eighteen years old, on January 17, 1973 in the Manti temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Manti, Utah. After they married, they lived in Provo, Utah for a time, and then they settled their family in Washington, in the Columbia Basin. Starting a family was very important to both Jim and Valerie. She always had a love for babies and was very good with them. And even after she was done having her own children she loved to hold other people’s babies and enjoy them too. Jim and Valerie had 6 kids together, Nathan, Jayma, Tyson, Bryanna, Tristan and Eli. Jim and Valerie purchased 5 acres in the Ephrata area in the late 1980’s and called their home Laughing Prairie. Valerie loved Laughing Prairie and always missed it when she was away from home. Jim and Valerie loved animals and always had plenty of animal companions. In 2001 Jim passed away following a long battle with cancer. Not long after his death Valerie went to work for Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake in admitting and scheduling. She worked there for several years until her health required her to stay home. In June 2011 Valerie married again, this time to John Patrick Franklin. After they were married Pat came to live at Laughing Prairie with Valerie and they were happy there. Pat loved Valerie very much and remained devoted to her for the rest of her life. Valerie suffered a stroke, a broken hip and endocarditis (an infection of the heart valves) in what felt like quick succession which led to further health issues that plagued her for the rest of her life. Valerie had many friends, especially among her church group, and was loved by many people. She will be greatly missed. Valerie was preceded in death by her husband Jim Downs, son Eli Downs, son- in-law Jeff Mears, her parents Henry and Margaret Bosch, and siblings: sister
Renee, brother Gerald and sister-in-law Beverly, twin brother Paul, sister Merry, and sister Darlene and her father and mother-in-law, Lee and Mary Downs and sister-in-law Bee Downs.
Valerie is survived by her husband Pat Franklin and her children: Nathan (Amanda) Downs of Woodinville, WA, Jayma Mears of Ephrata, WA, Tyson (Jenny) Downs of Riverton, UT, Bryanna (Scott) Elliott of Coulee City, WA and Tristan (Blake) Meyers of McKinney, Texas and 28 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters Jackie (Mike) Rossetti, and Amy (James) Staples and in-laws, Alyce Bosch, John (Claudia) Downs, Peggy Downs, Nancy Combs, Tom (Ann) Downs, Beckie (Byron) Torgersen, Joseph (Sharel) Downs, MaryAnn (Efrain) Ramirez and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you consider donating to The National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect. Due to the current Covid conditions and to respect Valerie’s final wishes, a public funeral will not be held. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.