Donna Lee's Obituary
Surrounded by her loving family, Ms. Donna Lee of University Place, Washington, found eternal rest in the arms of Jesus on July 15, 2020. Though her family and friends will dearly miss her, they smile, picturing her in her heavenly garden, where no deer will eat her prized roses. Her huge, adoring family also takes comfort knowing she is looking down from heaven, watching over them in pink and purple sunsets, bright blooming roses, and beautiful gardens.
Donna was born February 11,1932 in Tacoma, Washington, the daughter of Laurence and Ellen Hess. She was the third child of five children. Donna was preceded in death by her beloved sons, Mike Deutsch and Jeff Leahy, brother Robert (Bob) Hess and sister, Shirley Bahler. She is survived by her children, Dave (Linda), Gary (Jenny), Denise (Randy), and Dan; and sisters Janet Williamson and Lorraine Kirk.
She was a devoted mother and adored every one of her six children. Donna was also a loving grandmother to 14 grandchildren and great-grandmother to 11 great-grandchildren. She treasured all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and looked forward to holidays and family get-togethers when she got to see them all together.
Donna took great joy in blessing others, often putting herself last. Every job she worked involved giving to others.
She worked in a variety of fields, including as a licensed cosmetologist, and door-to-door saleswoman for an oil company.
Donna was called to the nursing field and earned her LPN license at 55, an accomplishment both Donna and her family were proud of.
She worked in the geriatric profession for 28 years as a medication and treatment nurse, nursing home administrator, and assisted living administrator.
Donna also spent countless hours volunteering. She completed drug and alcohol counseling education at Pierce College, served as a Sunday school teacher for 13 years, worked in prison ministry for 14 years, and was a regular food bank volunteer.
Donna was an inspiration to the surrounding community, often bringing freshly baked cookies and flowers to friends and neighbors. Her mission was to share the love of Christ with everyone around her, and she succeeded.
Family and friends loved to give her complex puzzles, and she delighted in spending hours completing them. Donna also loved playing games with family, especially when monetary prizes were included, which she would promptly give to her great-grandchildren. She had a special bond with her great-grandson, Logan, who is on the Autism spectrum, and she spent every Saturday with him for eight years. Logan taught her all about Star Wars and The Avengers while Donna worked with Logan, helping him learn valuable social skills.
When Donna’s cards arrived in the mail for family and friends, they always had her signature on them–a cheerful variety of bright and shiny stickers. Inside each card, she underlined words of encouragement to show how proud she was, and how much her loved ones meant to her.
Many thanks to The Neighborhood Church in University Place, who generously provided meals for her in her last weeks on earth.
Donna’s energy and enthusiasm for life was contagious. She left a legacy of deep commitment and caring to her entire family. Her memory will live on in the love she continually showered on family and friends. Rest well, Donna, your loved ones will deeply miss you.
A private funeral service will be held on July 27.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to multicare.org/hospice-ways-to-help/
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