Edward Downes after his health declined following a hip replacement. Lady Downes was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer that metastasised to her liver, and given only weeks to live. Lady Downes wrote a letter to family explaining that she had decided against treatment and that: Sir Edward, aged 85, and Lady Downes, aged 74, ended their lives by assisted suicide at the Dignitas clinic in Zürich, Switzerland, on 10 July 2009. Although Joan did not want the children present, Dignitas encouraged it and "Ted and Joanie" were reported to be pleased when the time came. Their children issued a statement speaking of
Sir Edward Gage, 1st Baronet was to Mary, daughter of Sir William Hervey of Ickworth, Suffolk, by whom he had one son, Sir William, his successor, and two daughters. He married secondly Frances, a daughter of Walter Aston, 2nd Lord Aston of Forfar. Sir Edward married, thirdly, Anne Watkins, by whom he had one son, and fourthly Lady Elizabeth Fielding, daughter of George Feilding, 1st Earl of Desmond. His final marriage was to his fourth wife's relation, Bridget Fielding. Sir Edward Gage, 1st Baronet Sir Edward Gage, 1st Baronet (c.1617 – January 1707) was an English baronet. Gage was born at Firle, East Sussex, the