Donna Belle Jones, 90

Donna Belle Jones, born Dec. 9, 1923, in Lakota, N.D., passed away on Aug. 1, 2014, in the arms of her two daughters, Candy and Robyn, with her husband Rick nearby. She fought a tough battle and was a trooper to the end!

Donna grew up in North Dakota and moved to Seattle in 1946 where she worked for Alaska Communications. It was there she met her husband Rick during World War II when his Navy ship, the USS Ticonderoga, came to port for repairs. 

Rick and Donna were soon married and moved to Springfield, Mass., to be with Rick’s family where their daughter Candy was born. A few years later they moved to Kalispell where Candy’s sister, Robyn, was born. Rick and Donna spent much of their life in Kalispell where they raised their two girls and were active members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Donna took great pride in her family and loved being a wife and mother.

In the early ‘80s they moved to McMinnville, Ore., to be close to their two daughters. Her husband Rick worked for Gormley Plumbing + Mechanical, and Donna and her girls opened the Blue Goose and Cat’s Meow Stores on Third Street. 

Donna and Rick enjoyed spending winters in Mesa, Ariz., and summers at Lake Blaine in Kalispell.  

Donna is survived by her husband, Rick, of 68 years; daughters and husbands, Candy and Ed Gormley of McMinnville, and Robyn and Lindsay Beeson of San Clemente, Calif.; sister, Pat Weed, and family, of Kalispell; grandchildren, Kim, Kori, Brandon, Tye, Brooke and spouses; and great-grandchildren, McKenzie, Kenadee, Kort, and soon to be great-granddaughter, Stella Belle.

Remembrances can be made to the H.R. Hoover Cancer Center at Willamette Valley Community Hospital, or Saint James Catholic Church where Rick and Donna were members. 

A private family celebration will be held this week at Macy and Son Funeral Home in McMinnville. To leave on line condolences, visit www.macyandson.com