About the Author

Gail Elliott Downs

Gail Elliott Downs is a retired elementary school educator with 37 years of experience as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and school librarian. She grew up as an “Army Brat” and is proud that both her mother, an Army nurse, and father served during World War II. Gail became an “Army Wife” and enjoyed teaching assignments in 10 school districts, including Landstuhl and Augsburg, Germany.
She is the author of The Black Suitcase Mystery—A World War II Remembrance, published in 2015. The book invites the reader to step back in time to the 1940’s and delve into a World War II “mystery” involving B-24 Liberator Bombers, the men who flew them and the women who waited for their safe return. This is a tragic yet triumphant tale of how a team of youthful detectives pieced together a story of young love,
separated by war—reunited by death.
The Black Suitcase Mystery recounts the experiences Gail and her fifth grade library students shared as they commemorated the 50th Anniversary of numerous World War II events. What started, in May of 1991, as a way to acquaint fifth-grade level students with the basics of genealogy research, eventually developed into a four-year study which was commended by President Clinton during his 1994 Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery.

The idea of introducing young students to a “hands on” genealogical experience involving primary source documents, library resources and even more importantly, the living resources in the community, quickly escalated into a “hearts on” experience of significant historical and personal value for each participant as well.

Gail is proud to be a member of the Oregon Spirit of ’45 as our country commemorates the 75th anniversary of World War II events. She supports the Spirit of ’45 mission statement that honors the achievements of the World War II generation and believes their example of courage, shared sacrifice, can-do spirit, unity, civic engagement and service will forever inspire future generations.