73’s for now—K7DEO signing clear.
Arnold Arnie Matier Donovan Sr. was born February 27, 1919 in Yakima Washington. Arnold at age 84, Passed away in the presence and love of his family, at home in Sedro Woolley, 1:00 p.m., Friday October 10, 2003.
Arnold was the youngest child of Hamilton Matier of Garvaghy, County Down, Ireland and Lucretia Metz Matier of Nebraska. Lucretia died of Tuberculosis soon after Arnold’s birth. Kate and Jesse Hewes in Yakima raised Arnold until he was 4 years old. Arnold then lived with his father Hamilton on the Upper Skagit at their Van Horn Homestead. At 6 years of age Arnold was adopted by Phillip and Hazel Donovan and was raised in Fairhaven/Bellingham, Washington and Portland, Oregon. At age 15 Arnold traveled alone by steamer from Portland to Sequi Washington, the tip of the Olympic Peninsula. The Chishom family, living on the Hoko River, took Arnold in. At Sequi Arnold worked at the Blodel Donovan Peninsula Operations logging base camp. Here Arnold worked in the camp kitchen, he graduated from Clallum Bay High School, and this was also the start of his carrier as a machinist, by working in the steam locomotive machine shops of his grandfather J.J. Donovan and J.J.’s partner J.H. Bloedel.
In 1940, as a patient at Saint Joseph Hospital in Bellingham, Arnold met a beautiful young R.N. in training by the name of Mary Magdalene Fahey 88’s. Mary is the daughter of James and Olive Davison Fahey of Sedro Woolley, Washington. Arnold and Mary were married on December 27, 1941 at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Sedro Woolley by Father Murtaugh.
Arnold’s great sense of responsibility and duty found him enlisted into the United States Army on May 5, 1942. Arnold’s unit, the 344th Army Engineers saw active service in England and Scotland, North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany.
Arnold and Mary raised their family and made their homes at Geneva on Lake Whatcom Bellingham, Van Horn on the Upper Skagit River, Mount Vernon, La Conner, and Sedro Woolley.
After WWII, Arnold Worked at Bloedel Donovan Lumber Co. Bellingham, Wa., Columbia Valley Lumber Co. Bellingham, Wa., Superior Cement, Concrete, Wa., Carnation Can Factory Mt. Vernon, Wa., Shell Oil Co., Anacortes Refinery. During Labor Strikes Arnold worked for B&P Welding, Black Smith and Machine, also Skagit Steel and later Skagit Bendix.
Arnold Retired from Shell Oil when Bendix Corporation informed him of Shell Oil’s request ,’not to hire him during strikes.’
After retirement Arnold worked for the contractor I-Mac at Mobile, Texaco, and Shell Oil Refineries.
Arnold enjoyed helping his friends with projects and if the project happened to be associated with ham radio, so much the better. Arnold’s interest in radio started in Portland in the 1920’s and is still in evidence here at home, with a 90-foot tower and directional multi-band beam he constructed, as centerpiece to his antenna farm. Arnold also loved operating his tractor and for a long period Sailing was a passion.
Arnold loved and is survived by: his wife of 62 years, Mary Fahey Donovan: his children, Arnie Matier Donovan Jr. and wife Jackie, Daniel Fahey Paine-Donovan and wife Nancy, Robert Jerome Donovan, Cherie Ann Donovan-Smith and husband Don, and Richard Philip Donovan and wife Carol.
Grand Children: Kelsey Donovan, Kali Donovan, Matt Donovan, Rory Paine-Donovan, Jessica Donovan, Molly Paine-Donovan, Orion Donovan-Smith, Gracie Donovan, Sy Donovan-Smith, Bridge Warwick Donovan, and Ethan Donovan.
Arnold’s Brothers, Sisters and In-laws: Helen and Woody Marriot of Edmonds, Wa., the late Albert Hamilton and Lilly Matier of Concrete, Wa., Ira Francis and Rose Matier of Sedro Woolley, Wa,. Jerry Matier of Sedro Woolley, Wa., the late Robert W. Donovan of Bellingham, Wa., Carol and Jack Chapman of Thousand Oaks Calif. Al Doorn of Sedro Woolley, Wa., Jeanne Lisherness of Sedro Woolley, Wa., and Mickey Sperry of Vancouver, Wa., and all their many children, Arnold’s Nieces and Nephews.
Our closing prayer:
Let the words of my mouth bring you praise,
Let the words that I speak be seasoned with your love and grace.
May the things, O Lord, that I choose to say,
Bring glory, not shame, to your name each day.
Let the words of my mouth, bring you praise.
I shall rejoice in eternity with you, O Lord, all my days.
Where the soul of man never dies.
Mary and family wish to thank Mark Collins, Pastor Tom Ross, Drs. Ransom, Kumar, Martin, Hymes, Smith, Pohlman and their associates, and all the many care givers that graced Arnold’s life. We also wish to thank all the members of the Washington Amateur Radio Traffic System Net. B.C.N.U.
Memorials in remembrance of Arnold are suggested to the Skagit Valley Kidney Center and Skagit Hospice. At Arnold’s request there will be no services. You are invited to share your thoughts and memories of Arnold by signing our online guestbook at www.lemleychapel.com Arrangements and cremation under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.