Donna Jean Howell of Concrete, Washington, passed away quietly on February 5, 2011 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on February 1, 1941, to Leah Grace and Floyd Prose in Seattle, WA, and moved to Concrete with her mother and sisters Lois and Darlene in 1946.
Donna was united in marriage to Michael (Mick) Howell on July 3rd, 1958, and they raised their family in Concrete. Donna worked for many years at Dynes’ Farm in Burlington until her retirement in 2003.
Donna was devoted to her family and took special pleasure in shopping for them, especially at Christmas. Not a birthday or anniversary would go by without a card or gift from “Grandma”. This devotion to family was not limited to her children and grandkids, but she also had a special bond with her eight sisters and brothers and their kids. Family gatherings were a special time for her and she organized family reunions year after year.
Donna leaves behind many loved ones including her husband Michael Howell of Concrete, WA, sons Colin and Kathy Howell of Concrete, WA, Kelly and Brooke Howell of Birdsview, WA, and daughter Barbara and Mike Britt of Tonasket, WA, eight grandchildren, Jesse and Ashleigh Howell, Leann Howell, Kim and Scott Latta, Cherie Largent, Cassandra Reickers, Brittany, Kyler and Treyton Howell; five great-grandchildren, Tanner Garner, Haliegh Budd, Jordan and Taylor Latta and Camden Howell; sisters Lois and Bill Harris of Prosser, WA, Darlene and Mike Dods, Judy and Bob Stafford, and Connie Leopard all of Concrete, and Linda and Dave Griffis of Toledo, WA; brothers Bill and Cindy Schrader of Forks, WA, Frank and Donna Schrader, of Concrete and Jim and Susan Schrader of Auburn, WA along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father Leah and Ervin Schrader and daughter Mary Louise Reickers.
She was truly loved and will be dearly missed. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Concrete Food Bank or the Skagit County Humane Society.
A time of visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 12, 2011, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 46372 East Main Street, Concrete, Washington, with Pastor Mark Stroud officiating. Burial will be at Forest Park Cemetery, with a reception to follow.
My prayers are with you all.
I did not get to know Donna well but when I did see her at family reunions I loved to hear her laugh and you could tell she enjoyed and adored her family and she was one of many to welcome a new comer into the family. Loved to hear the stories she told.
Yes very strong lady indeed and she will be missed much.
Very sorry for your loss.
Shirley, Katie and Tyler
Our hearts are saddened to hear about your loss of such a loving and caring lady. When Donna is in so many hearts she is still live here within. Only without the pain of the cancer she was fighting. Now is the time to look back and remember your best times spent with her. Pass on her tricks, her “honey popcorn” and other items what will be her for generations to come. Our prayers are with you.
To Donna’s Family
May the Great Spirit lift you all and hold you close with great comfort and lots of Love. Thinking of you all.
Donna, I will miss you., my heart goes out to the family, my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.. I pray that god will comfort each and every one of you. Donna was a very strong lady! I will cherish all the good memories and all the fun times that we shared with our families… Donna will always be in my heart.. I love you, and will miss you..
Donna…I’m not sure where to begin. I remember being scared to death to meet you at the young age of 13, but from that day forward, I have treasured every moment of being a part of this wonderful family. You have brought much joy to us and have given my children many great memories, from the tuna fish sandwiches that Britt so loved to the honey buttered popcorn that we have carried over into our house (remember the day Kyler asked, “Grandma, will you make some more honey popcorn…it’s good” He thought the butter was honey because it was sooooo good.) This tradition will carry on forever in our house. Our many hours spent with you at the endless games, family reunions and many other adventures will be in our hearts forever. Thank you for the many times you were there to care for my children (I don’t think I thanked you enough). I will miss seeing the loving cards that would arrive in the mail during the holidays. I love and miss you and will see you once again someday with hug and a kiss.
Love you – Brooke
Donna was a very sweet loveing person she was so kind to my mother even when she was in the nurseing home. Donna will be dearley missed and forever in my heart. My prayers are with you all.
My condolences to ALL of Donna’s family. She will be missed. I always admired her strength that she showed, compation, and Love for Family and the people arond her. She had a unique relationship with my Mom and made her feel welcome into the Howell family.
My Prayers are with the Family and Friends of the people Donna touched.
I’m sorry that I really didn’t get to know Donna very well, Just a hello or small talk at the family reunions. I do know that she and Uncle Mick have some wonderful kids and grandkids. She must have been a really stronge lady because I didn’t even realize she was sick with cancer and I know how it feels to be that sick, your in so much pain. I’m praying for comfort for the family and that God watches ver them all. God bless be with peace
I am so sorry for your loss. I have alot of memorie of aunt Donna and my mom over the years. I know that she will be dearly missed.Iam sorry that we will not be able to attend the service. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the family.Love and miss you Rick
I really didn’t get to know Donna too well just at family reunions.But she does have some wonderful children. I’m sorry that I didn’t know she was sick and she did a good job not showing it. Too bad we didn’t get a chance to know one another more.My best of love goes out to her whole family and Uncle Mick. God bless and take care.
Mick and Family,
Sorry to hear that Donna has passed away. I know from the way Barb talks, there are alot of memories to get together at family events to talk about.
My Condolences, Debbie, Tonasket, Wa.
To The Howell Family
I went to school with the Howell family many years ago. They are an insitution in Concrete. Donna will be missed. God’s blessings to you all. Joan
Auntie Donna , I love you, and so happy we were able to spend some time together, especially talking about the old days and family. I’m so proud of you for being so strong,”not yet” Love you & miss you.
Howell Family.
I cant tell you how many loving wonderful memories I have of Donna. One amazing angel. She took care of me a lot when i was little. My dad Ted Haussler, mick and donna were best friends. I really wish I had kept a diary or had a recorder going when those 3 were together ! Kelly, I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that each and every one of you are in my heart.
Uncle Mick I love you ! I sure miss the smoked salmon in the old fridge out back. I loved and treasure all the time spent at Staffords ! Time goes by, memories stay. I wish you all peace. Love and Prayers
Marcy (Haussler) Eschler
I am saddened to hear that Donna has passed away. Although I have only known Donna for a few years we had some interesteing talks. She is now free of pain watching over all of us. She will be missed. Donna ~ I will think of you everytime I go to that park and I will see you agsin some day! Love Suzette
Grandma,
I have such amazing memories of spending time at your house as a kid. I miss the tunafish sandwiches on my favorite big white bread. I used to cherish the porcelin dolls you would give me each year on my birthday. We got along so well and had such a close relationship. Im so glad you were able to watch one of my college games, something few can boast. I am so grateful that I was able to spend time with you this September and Christmas and that I was able to talk to you on the phone a few days ago. I love you so much and will miss you everyday. Xoxo.
My thoughts and prayers for Donna and all of her family at this sad time. She fought a long hard battle these past couple of years and she is finally able to rest peacefully. I know she really thought she was going to beat the cancer and I so wish she could have. God bless all of you and help you get through this . Remember the good times and let any others go. She loved you all very much!!!
Grandma, had some of the best memories with you, shopping, Christmas’, some of the best were recently in the last days of your life, so glad we all got to spend them with you
Love Always,
Leann
To finish my comment above.; I don’t believe that there were any life events that we didn’t go through together. Please know that you will all be in my thoughts and prayers forever. Donna knew how to make one feel like family. Even though Donna and I didn’t keep in contact, my dauhgter, Ricci and Donna did. My Ricci still refers to Donna as Grandma Donna. She started out in Ricci’s life as that and will always be. Life is a blessing we should never take advantage of. Donna taught me a very valuable gift and that is that you should never care what someone else thinks of you, stand tall and proud. Donna, I was very lucky to have you in my life, Thank You for all the wonderful years. Love ya Momma Donna, I will miss you much.
Love to all, Tina
Mick and Family; Sad to read this, Donna was and is a nice lady. She’ll be missed by all. Our Condolences, Keith and Joann Gardinier, Malott, Wa
Hello to all of Donna’s Family,
I have been blessed with many gifts in life and your mother was one of them. We had our years of separation but in the end we were able to go back to how it always was, well almost. I know that Donna truly loved me and I loved her. She was there for me in a fragile time of my life. I am thankful for her friendship and mothering. I will never forget all the wonderful things we did together. I don’t believe there was any life
Donna’s Family
I am so sorry to hear that Donna has passed away. I remember her when I was a young kid growing up in Concrete. She always seemed to have a smile on her face. May God comfort you all in this time of sorrow. Remember the “good ol times” you all have had together, I’m sure there are many.
JoyceVaara Holland