Donald Blanton Saunders, 76, a lifetime resident of Sedro Woolley and the Skagit Valley, passed away on the morning of April 14th 2015, from complications due to lung cancer.

Don was born on the 2nd of October, 1938, to Lawrence and Mayme Saunders in Franklin, North Carolina. He was married to Sharon Sue Saunders on the 27th of November, 1986 and spent the following 13 years deeply in love. Widowed since July 12th 1999…he has now been reunited with Sharon in their eternal home.

 Don grew up on the Skagit Riverbank in Hamilton, WA after the family moved out from Franklin in 1941. He attended Sedro Woolley High School and left in 1955 to serve this great country, The United States of America in the Air Force until 1959. After racing the flat track motorcycle circuit throughout the 1960’s he went on in pursuit of his engineering degree, which he in turn used to perform his many tasks within the lumber industry. He was an avid sportsman that loved to hunt and fish all over the Cascade Range and the Puget Sound. He was fond of horses and motorcycles, and had the opportunity to own, ride and maintain many of them throughout his lifetime. Dedicated to family, friends and co-workers, he was always there for the ones he held closest to his heart.

 Don is survived by his son, Jeff Saunders and his wife, Kate of Seattle; daughter, Lisa Bazz and her husband, Steve of Denver, CO; daughter, Kim Kartness of Berthoud, CO; step sons, Mike Ammons of Lynden, and Bud Ammons Jr. and his wife, Keri of Lynden; step daughters, Dianna Kleindel and her husband, Mark of Lynden and Michelle Montoya and her husband, Eli of Sedro Woolley; brothers, Dick Saunders and his wife, Anna of Lyman and Larry Saunders and his wife, Pam of Custer; sisters, Freida Florea and her husband, Harold of Sedro Woolley and Peggy Kirkpatrick of Sedro Woolley; four granddaughters, Autum Saunders, Kaitlyn Saunders, Chloe Bazz, Tera Amburn; three grandsons, Dustin Thomas, Zachary Thomas, Jesse Hartness; eleven step grandchildren, Talesha Ammons, Nicholas Ammons, Preston Witman, Briley Ammons, Kelson Ammons, Kylen Kleindel, Kenda Sipma, Tanya Assink, Kylie Aldridge, Taryn Aldridge, Jonah Montoya; fourteen great grandchildren and many cousins, nephews and nieces.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Sue Saunders; his parents, Lawrence and Mayme Saunders; aunts and uncles, Dot, Margie, Fred, Jess, Cliff, Lonnie and Wiley from his mother’s side and Rena, Annie, Hazel, Wayde, Frank, Bill, Spurgeon and Rawley from his father’s side; sister Peggy’s son, Robert Keller and husband, Jim; brother Dick’s wife, Arlene; cousin, Glen Bates and his wife, June.  All including Dad are missed dearly.

A celebration of life gathering for family and close friends will be held at a later date.