Peter Daniel Downey

Peter Daniel Downey, 13, resident of Louisburg, KS, passed away at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO, on Monday, March 4, 2013. Peter was born on February 27, 2000, in Olathe, Kansas, the son of David and Christine Downey. He was the 8th of 9 children. With 5 older brothers, Brock, Nicholas, Travis, Andrew and Benjamin, Peter tried to be just like all of them. He always loved to build new things and inventions with the help of all his siblings. He even built a catapult/trebuchet with the help of all his siblings. The newest invention he was working on was building a go-cart trailer out of an old wheelbarrow. He loved driving in the go-cart, and would always drive it until it broke, and then would fix it. With only 2 older sisters, Bridget and Rebecca, Peter was always eager for their help on all his 4-H projects. He needed help often, and wasn't afraid to ask. Only 3 years older than his younger sister, Gemma, Peter loved being an older brother and even was able to help feed his sister when she was a baby. Peter was home schooled and in 7th grade. His favorite subjects were science and religion. Peter really enjoyed studying physics and the workings of levers and things he could see like magnets and electrical circuits. He also really enjoyed his co-op writing class with many other homeschoolers and friends. His favorite color was green, and he really enjoyed all tractors especially green John Deere tractors and his Dad's green Oliver tractor. Peter was always busy. With 4-H, he was always working on projects for the Miami County Fair and County Club Days. Among his favorite 4-H projects were his bucket calf, Jed, and all his goats. He also played the piano and performed at Crown Center several times and even played several duets with his brother, Benjamin. Another favorite new project with his siblings, Benjamin, Rebecca, and Gemma, was a lyrical ballet. They danced to the song 'Cinderella' by Steven Curtis Chapman. In this song, a young daughter asks her father to practice dancing. His sisters danced the ballet parts and his brother and he waltzed with their sisters and supported the ballerinas with their jumps. Peter's first performance was the day before his accident, Saturday, March 2nd. To see his last dance, please follow this link: http://www.leewestphotography.com/Video/CountyClubDays2013.wmv Peter always was coming up with new "ingenious" ideas and his family enjoyed helping him. He even made up a new word to pronounce when his ideas or inventions worked. He would exclaim, "Swawesome!" which is a mixture between sweet and awesome. In his spare time, Peter enjoyed reading books about Tin Tin, the Hardy Boys, and especially Calvin and Hobbes. He also really loved to drive anything he could on the family farm, including a skidsteer, a mini excavator, and as many trucks and cars as he could find including the family go-cart. Peter had also completed a duathalon where he placed first in his age group, and a kid's triathalon. Peter was preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. He had chosen Saint Patrick of Ireland for his confirmation saint. St. Patrick is the patron saint of engineers, which is what he wanted to be when he grew up. He had already asked his oldest brother, Brock, to be his confirmation sponsor. He was also an altar server for both Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Louisburg and Queen of the Holy Rosary, Wea. He was a daily Mass attender and had just learned how to clean and change the holy water with his brother which was done every Monday. Peter loved babies, born and unborn. He was very involved in many family Pro-life activities. He rode on many Pro-life parade floats in Louisburg. His favorite float quoted Mother Theresa across the top, "How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers." He was also involved in the Miami County Pro-life chain and regularly prayed in front of Wal-mart for an hour. He also prayed in front of the abortion clinic in Overland Park. For many years, he traveled to the state capitol in Topeka and prayed and rallied in the freezing weather. There are just too many more Pro-life projects he was involved in to mention them all. This is the prayer, Peter prayed everyday before school. Every year each person in our family chooses the name of a baby to pray for. This year he chose to spiritually adopt "Gerald". Spiritual Adoption Prayer for the Unborn (Bishop Fulton Sheen) Jesus, Mary, Joseph I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn child that I have spiritually adopted Who is in danger of abortion. Dear Jesus, Mary, Joseph I promise to pray for this baby I have spiritually adopted during these 9 months of my school year, so he or she may be born as I have been born to live a life as a child of God to love and serve Him. Peter was preceded in death by his grandfather, William Downey, and his grandparents, Carl Bors III and Susan Bors Survivors include his parents, David and Christine Downey; brothers Brock Downey and wife Caitlin, Nicholas Downey, Travis Downey, Andrew Downey, and Benjamin Downey; sisters Bridget Downey, Rebecca Downey, and Gemma Downey; nephew Owen Downey; grandmother Patricia Downey; and numerous, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions payable to Miami County 4-H Foundation. Queen of the Holy Rosary Wea Catholic Church 22779 Metcalf Bucyrus, KS Service: Friday, March 08, 2013 at 11:00 AM Visitation: Thursday, March 07, 2013 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM