Donna Lee Rowe

Donna Lee Burton Rowe was born in Ogden Utah February 18, 1928 died August 18 2017. She was the first child born to Leah and Lloyd Burton. When she was born her mother had small pox and even though her mother Leah was not seriously ill her baby was born with small pox on her tiny little body and she was blind in one eye. She suffered all the normal childhood ailments but she always seemed to get the worst case and have it last the longest. So she was frail and sickly, shy and fearful. When she was three, a sister Carole Joy Burton was added was added to the family. Carole was like a big sister to Donna. Donna was helped, protected and guided by her little sister because where Donna was timid, Carole was confident. Carole died in 2003 but has been present in Donna's life recently since her fall in January. Many mornings as Karen her daughter would go in to Donna's room in the morning she would tell Karen that Carole was with her all night comforting her.

Donna's father worked for the Union Pacific RR in the stockyard office so the family enjoyed the benefit of RR passes to travel a little Times were hard so they did not go very far. The depression was the back drop of her life. Most of Donna's entire family lived within a 3 block distance on Wall St in Ogden. That included Grandparents, Great Aunts and Uncles, Aunts and Uncles and cousins. So there was lots of love and support for her. She had one Aunt and Uncle who lived in a little RR town named Bitter Creek near Green River Wyo. Donna and her sister Carole would go there on the train every summer for a few weeks, at first with their mother but then later when they were bigger they went on their own. This is where their favorite cousins Darhl and Glenna lived with no electricity and out houses. Her Uncle and Aunt owned the only store and gas station in the small town and also ran the Post Office. It was such an adventure and they loved it there. They only place to play was the one room school yard where there was a small merry-go-round and swings. While playing there one hot, dusty summer day when she was 9 she met a bratty, conceited young man aged 12 who would not push her on the merry-go-round. That young man was her future husband. Jay Rowe was the stepson of a railroad employee and attended that one room school house.

Donna was very smart and advanced one year in school so at barely 17 she graduated from Ogden HS in 1945. She took some secretarial and shorthand courses and began working at the arsenal in Ogden. Earlier in 1942 when Jay joined the Navy she began a correspondence and they dated when he came to town on his leaves. By then his mother and stepfather were living in Ogden. Jay was discharged from the Navy in May of 1946 and they were married in July 1946. They set up home in the basement apartment of her parents. Karen was born the next year and Harold followed in 1949. Jay's mother, stepfather and younger brothers moved to Seattle in 1949 to work for Boeing and Jay and Donna followed in 1951 where Jay got a job at Boeing also. This move was very difficult for Donna being such a shy person and always being around multiple family members. She didn't like the rain and lack of sun, she didn't have her longtime friends and she didn't have anywhere to go or anyway to get there. At first she attend church by herself with her children in White Center above the Rexall Drug store where she went late and left early to avoid talking to people or being asked to do anything. Gradually she made a few friends in the neighborhood and at church. About the time they bought their first home still in the Seattle 6th Ward she accepted her first calling as Relief Society Secretary back when minutes were written and recorded for every meeting. She held this position for many years serving with many wonderful sisters who supported her in the challenges she faced as a wife of an inactive member. She also served as the Stake Relief Society Secretary. She was a valiant Visiting Teacher. As her life progressed she faced the challenges that came and she became more confident and less shy. She was grateful for all that she had and she was thoughtful of others before herself. She was humble and never tried to be better than anyone. She loved her children and gave abundant praise and confidence to them. She was a prolific writer of family histories, journals, letters and poetry. Karen tells that as little girl she was always so proud of the beautiful notes that Donna would give her to take to teachers, friends and associates and even her school absentee notes were beautifully written.

She spent many hours working on counted cross stitch art. She produced beautiful work which even on the backside was perfect. She worked as a bookkeeper until she was 72 starting after her children were in school at a Furniture store in downtown Seattle near the Bon Marche. She rode the bus everyday but she always made sure that she had Thursday mornings off so she could attend Relief Society. She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers like her mother and her grandmother. Donna's Great Grandmother walked across the plains to Utah as a little girl. Donna liked to bowl, play cards and she enjoyed watching the Mariners, a love that she gained from watching her son Harold play baseball as a young man. She had nine grandchildren to whom she gave each individual attention and love. Almost every weekend she had one or more come to spend time with her.

In her later years with Jay they were able to travel. They visited England, Wales and Scotland, Australia, and Hawaii on many occasions. They also travelled and camped in their RV taking it as far east as Missouri and up into Canada. Finally in 1999 Jay told Donna that he wanted to start attending church with her and one year later he kept his promise to her that he would take her to the temple someday. They were sealed together and Karen was sealed to them. Harold was later sealed to them after he in passed in 2011.

Jay passed in December 2002 and Donna took up residence in Everett to be closer to Harold and Karen and their families. She missed her companion of 56 years so much. In 2009 due to bad health she moved in with Karen, Tony and April and Dan. She revived a bit for several years and continued to drive and meet with friends. She enjoyed the interaction with her great grandchildren who lived with her especially the nightly hugs and kisses. She loved that so many family members came and visited her. She was preceded in death by her husband Jay Herman Rowe and her son Jay Harold Rowe. Survivors include daughter Karen Elaine Pascoal (Tony), Grandchildren Toni Hayes, Debi (Jacob) Hersherber, Tami (Dennis) Everts, Barton (Lisa) Pascoal, April (Daniel) Desmond, Manuel (Amy) Pascoal, Leah (Jay) Arnold, Vincent Pascoal and companion Danielle Hensrude, John (Kelli) Pascoal. In addition to her nine Grandchildren she is survived by 38 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

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