Donna Jean Duncan

Donna Jean (Rowe) Duncan was born in her grandmother's house in Meadow Glade, Washington October 8, 1923, the only child of C.J. and Ethel Rowe. She grew up in Portland, Oregon in the apartment above her mother’s business, the “Donna Jean Beauty Salon”. She attended Laurelwood Academy in Laurelwood, Oregon where she met Dean Duncan. They married on Nov.15, 1941, shortly before he began military service in World War II.

Donna was a homemaker and mother to five children in the Portland area. Later she was employed in medical billing. In the early 1970’s she pursued a lifelong dream and moved to Hawaii with her youngest son, Doug. There she worked in the hospitality industry, mostly in reception, where she loved to share the “Aloha spirit”. (Her first visit to Hawaii had been on the SS Lurline in 1938 when she was only 15.) She made her home in Lahaina, Maui for 26 years, passing on her love of Hawaii to her family. She spent five years in Scottsdale, AZ, and finally came to Lolo, Montana in 2000 to live near family.

Donna enjoyed traveling to far off places and had a special love of islands all over the world. She had a generous spirit and an open heart and made many friendships that lasted for life. A number of people have referred to her as their “second Mom”. Her children have been told beautiful stories of lives that were changed through her loving attention, sharing of faith and listening ear.

Donna passed away peacefully at age 89 in the comfort of her own home with her four surviving children nearby: Stephen Duncan, David Duncan, Katherine Duncan Massena, and Douglas Duncan. She was preceded in death by her son John in 1965. She has 7 grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at Douglass Cemetery in Troutdale, OR on Friday April 19th at 12:00pm where she will be laid to rest in the Lord beside her son John and her parents. Arrangements are entrusted to Bateman Carroll Funeral Home in Gresham, Oregon.