Donna R. Willette

On a beautiful sunny day with the snowy Mt. Stuart Range shining, our beautiful Mom and Grandma, Donna Willette, 89, peacefully passed away January 22, 2025 surrounded by God’s love, her family and the love of her friends. The family will greet friends at a visitation from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025 at Johnston & Williams in Cle Elum. Donna’s funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1 at the Cle Elum Community Church with a reception to follow.

Mom was born on July 16, 1935 in Clifton, Colorado and was raised, along with her younger brother Duane, by their loving grandmother Goldie Carter. She lived in Grand Junction, Colorado before moving to Easton at an early age, later living in Cle Elum where she attended school and graduated from Cle Elum High in 1953. She married James E. Willette on October 24, 1953 and the young couple moved to South Cle Elum where they lived and raised their three children - Cindy, Rocky and Wesley. In the first two years of their marriage, they spent summers living at Fish Lake with a view of Cathedral Peak from their cabin door, while Dad worked at the sawmill there. She was proud to have lived in her South Cle Elum home for over 70 years.

Mom was always very active in church – attending the Nazarene church as a child and later the Cle Elum Community Church for over 70 years. She taught her children to love God and was active in Sunday School as a teacher, superintendent, Bible school, youth group, Kiwana’s Luncheon Mission Group, Ladies Aid, and also served as an Elder. She was active to the end in Prayer Group and Bible Study with a very close-knit group of friends whom she loved as sisters. She attended church every Sunday and was blessed to attend with members of her family and church family.

Mom made friends everywhere and loved them like family. She attended Central Washington University, completing an EMT course, and was the Cle Elum Ambulance Director for 13 years. She also worked in the Family Medicine Clinic in Cle Elum.

Mom was known as “The Egg Lady” for her years of home delivering eggs from Walkers Egg Ranch. She was also the maker of popcorn balls at Halloween. Her signature baking was Torchettis, breadsticks, apple squares and doughnuts. She shared them (and the recipes and process of making them) with family, friends and her grandchildren. She loved her family being together. Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays will always be remembered where we gathered at her home, followed by an after dinner “walk to the river.”

In 2019 she became the Pioneer Days Queen and was known as the Mountain Queen. She loved being in the Fourth of July Parade, driven by her friend Cliff in his classic car. She also loved hiking with her friends and family, cards with her Friday night friends, and volunteering at the Cle Elum Telephone Museum. Her family was of paramount importance - she led them to Jesus, bought them Bibles and taught them to love hiking, camping, motorhome trips and the great outdoors.

Mom loved God, loved family and loved the mountains. She taught us to love God, and to love each other. She raised her family on the hiking trails of the Upper County and we sat on top of Mr. Stuart with her. Mom you were a blessing to us! Mom was surrounded by her family on her last day on earth and her first day in heaven. She blessed us with the “Peace that passes understanding.”

Donna is survived by her children Cindy (Steve) Rogers, Rocky (Lou) Willette, and Wes (Kim) Willette; grandchildren Jennifer (Dustin) Freniere, Nicole (Joe) Standish, Chris (Shelby) Willette, Zach (Shurayla) Willette and Annika Willette (Logan Elliot); great-grandchildren Mandi and Austin Freniere, Grayson and Eleah Willette, Finn and Aida Standish, and Eleanor Elliot Willette; and cousins Betty (Vern), Paul, Shirley and Gwen. She was preceded in death by her grandmother Goldie Carter; husband Jim Willette; brother Duane Hodson and great-granddaughters Annaliese and Aurora Willette.

Memorial contributions in Donna’s honor are suggested to the Cle Elum Community Church, PO Box 430, Cle Elum, WA 98922. Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Cle Elum. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com