Donna Pauline Neel

Donna Pauline (French) Neel, age 90, of Shoreline, Washington , formerly of Goldendale, Washington, died Saturday January 27, 2024 at UW Northwest hospital in Seattle, Washington. A private graveside funeral will be held Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Acacia Memorial Park in Seattle. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Ligonier Ministries at www.ligonier.org.

Donna was born June 4, 1933 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Dr. Paul O. and Lily (Sinclair) French. She graduated from Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids in 1951 and earned a bachelor degree in Elementary Education from Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee in 1955. She taught first grade for two years in Ketchikan, Alaska. She also taught first grade in Spokane, Washington and later, kindergarten in Goldendale, Washington from 1978 until she retired in 1997.

Donna met Bob Neel in Ketchikan and they were married there May 30, 1956. They were married for 63 years, 43 of those in Goldendale, Washington. They were members of the Goldendale United Methodist church where Donna taught Sunday School for several years. Later they attended the Grace Brethren Church in Goldendale. After moving to Shoreline, Washington in 2016, Donna became a member of the Reformed Presbyterian church in Seattle. Donna had many interests and hobbies through the years. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed knitting, calligraphy, reading, crossword puzzles and sudoku.

She is survived by her children ; Laurie Strom of Meridian, Idaho ; Bill Neel (Jacqueline) of Seattle, Washington ; Paul Neel (Jill) of Bellingham, Washington ; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents ; son, David Neel (Nancy) in 2014 ; sister Lila Megchelsen in 2014 ; and husband Bob Neel in 2019.