Donna Lea Whitehouse

Donna passed away peacefully at Blossom Place in Yakima November 22, 2017 at the age of 94. She was born on June 27, 1923 to Roy and Ruby Johnson in Wetmore, Kansas. The family moved to the Yakima Valley in 1936. She graduated from Yakima High School in 1941 and worked at Mercy Theaters. She married Harry Wayne Whitehouse in 1942. She worked at the Cascade Lumber Company until 1949 when she became a full-time mom. Returning to work in 1965, she worked for KIMA TV then Selah School District as an administrative secretary before retiring in 1985.

Donna was very active in her community. As a member of the Lower Naches Woman’s Club since 1944 she served three separate terms as president. She led a Boys 4-H club, was a Blue Bird Leader, Boy Scout Assistant, president of PTA, and also president of the Lower Naches Garden Club in 1970 and again in 2000. She also served as president of the Yakima Valley Association of Educational Secretaries. She volunteered at the American Cancer Discovery Shop and Harmon Senior Center, and worked on the Election Board for 5 years.

After retirement, Donna and Wayne loved traveling in their motor home throughout the year, spending their winters in Arizona and California. She would say “My family is the most important part of my life” and so much enjoyed the fishing and camping trips with her family especially the annual salmon fishing trips to Westport and Ilwaco. Married for 65 years, she was preceded in death by her husband Harry Wayne Whitehouse in 2007. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one sister (Betty Wallbaum) and 3 brothers (Martin Johnson, Duane Johnson and Ed Johnson).

Donna is survived by sons Joe Whitehouse (Judi) and Don Whitehouse (Ethel) of Yakima and daughter Billie Briney (Don) of Peoria, AZ; her grandchildren: Chris Whitehouse (Staci) and Kevin Whitehouse (Malissa) of Kent, WA, Brian Whitehouse (Sheena) of Olympia, WA, Tyler Whitehouse (Jackie) of Puyallup, WA and 8 great grandchildren, Megan, Emelie, Ethan, Madilyn, Evie, Ally, Lily and Jack, and her sister Mary Lizotte along with numerous nieces and nephews. Sharing in the family’s grief of losing such a special person, is her friend and companion for the past 7 years, Gailon Gentry Sr. of Yakima.

Special thanks to the staff at Good Samaritan, Blossom Place, and Memorial Hospice, for their exceptional care and concern for Donna.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 28th at Keith and Keith Funeral Home, 902 W. Yakima Avenue from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held November 29th, 11:00 am at the Rainier Memorial Center, 2807 Terrace Heights Drive. Interment will follow immediately at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Catered Reception following in the Rainier Memorial Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospice.

To share a memory of Donna, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.