Donna Wells

Donna passed peacefully Feb. 8, 2023. She was 76. Donna was born Aug. 12, 1946, to Matthew and Margaret (Morford) Sybouts. Donna joined sister Carol at home on the family hop farm and tree fruit orchard in Zillah, WA. Donna enjoyed working with her dad in the shop and spending time with him on the tractor out in the fields. During the hop growing season, she and Carol were tasked with riding their horses through the hop rows and checking the condition of the poles, wires and vines. She had a love for German Shepherd dogs, especially Laddie. Donna attended Zillah schools and graduated from Zillah High School in 1964. While in high school, Donna enjoyed being a member of the Drill Team. Following high school, Donna attended Yakima Business College. This led to her jobs with the Yakima Herald Republic newspaper, Decoto Aircraft and eventually settling into credit union work in Yakima/Union Gap and later in Visalia, CA. Donna enjoyed fishing, boating through the San Juan Islands from their moorage in La Conner and later from their boathouse at Clover Island Yacht Club on the Columbia River in Kennewick, trips to the coast, cruising through the Panama Canal, to and from Hawaii and Alaska. She also liked the occasional trip to the casino (store) to play the slots, especially with her sister Carol. Donna also liked anything Hallmark, including greeting cards and large collection of animated Christmas ornaments. Her tree and home, when completely decorated, was a wonder to behold and hear. Donna was a 15 year cancer survivor after first being diagnosed in 2007 while living in Visalia. After relocating to Vancouver in 2014, they continued to drive to UCLA or Stanford for her yearly checkups. Donna is survived by her husband, John; stepdaughter Brandie (Jon) Bacon with granddaughter Britnie Bacon and grandson Jared Bacon; sister-in-law, Julie Turner (Jack Ridley); brother-in-law, Tom (Karen) Wells; and niece, Heidi Holmstrom. In the Yakima/Kittitas Valley area, she is survived by her sister, Carol (Don) Marsh, Zillah, WA. Donna was very close to her nieces Donnita Marsh, Heather (Chris) Wofford and nephew Ken (Tamra) Marsh. She was also Great-Aunt Donna to great-niece, Kaitlin (Nathaniel) Deardorff; great-nephews, Ty Marsh, Chance (Aydan) Marsh, Lane Marsh and Kyler Marsh; and great-great-nephews, Declan and Derick Deardorff. Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Vancouver, WA, is in charge of arrangements and Donna will be interred at Willamette National Cemetery. The family would like to thank and acknowledge the outstanding skilled and compassionate care received at Hudson's Bay Medical Group, Vancouver Clinic Salmon Creek, Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital and Community Home Health and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Salvation Army, 11018 NE 14th Street, Vancouver, WA 98684.

Donna Wells

August 12, 1946 - February 8, 2023