Donna Fay Rose

We have said goodbye to each other before, so it stands to reason we will say hello again.”

Donna Fay Rose (nee: Thomas) was born on August 8th, 1944 in Taft, California to Vona Fay and Raymond Atwood Thomas. In her early years, she lived many places before meeting her future husband of 61 years, Raymond Rose, at North High School in Des Moines, Iowa. They met in math class at the age of 15. She sat in front of him, and he was constantly frustrated with her because her ponytail, wet from her previous swimming class, would drip on his schoolwork. While it was far from love at first sight, the two of them maintained contact even once she moved away later that same year.

Keeping in contact with one another through several more moves by Donna’s family, they fell in love through their letters. Finally, 4 years later they reunited and married in Des Moines, Iowa on the 9th of November, 1963 at the age of 19.

Eventually, they moved west to Denver, Colorado where they found their true home among the mountains. They began a family with their daughter, Tina in 1975 and later brought their son Wade into the fold at the age of 7 in 1977.

Moving from Denver to Montrose in 1977, Donna lived an extraordinary life of family and community service there for 45 years. She was a dedicated public servant, having spent time on the school board for Montrose County, and serving various leadership positions for the Montrose County Republican Women. Perhaps her proudest accomplishment was helping to establish the Dolphin House Child Advocacy Center, where she and others helped provide a safe and loving place for children in dangerous circumstances. The Dolphin House still serves the community today.

Although she wasn’t able to do it as much as she’d have liked, she loved traveling. Among her favorite memories were of a trip to Germany with Ray and seeing the famed Christmas markets there, and many trips to Mexico with her friends. She also toured various places in Canada, and had visited nearly every state in the United States, including Alaska. Her hobbies included crocheting, collecting jewelry and a passion for indoor plants. African Violets were her favorite, and she kept a large and varied collection.

While she had lived many places in her life, Montrose was always dearest to her heart. It was the only place she ever truly considered home. She was passionate about the mountains, and one of her favorite things to do was have meals on the porch overlooking the San Juan range just south of their home in Colorado. Though in her final years she and Ray moved to Washington to be closer to family, Montrose was still engraved in her heart and she missed it often.

In her final years, she and Ray lived in the Seattle area. They celebrated their 61st and last wedding anniversary together on November 9th, 2024. She enjoyed days out shopping and looking at flowers with her daughter, which she spent her last spring doing happily.

Anyone who knew her knew Donna to be a spitfire. She was a woman of many opinions, and was unafraid to let people know exactly where she stood. When in the company of her loved ones, she could often be seen flipping them the bird or telling them “bite me” lovingly. She was the kind of person who let you know you she loved you through good natured teasing. She had a mischievous sparkle to her eyes and loved a good laugh. But beneath that occasionally prickly and teasing exterior lay a beautiful soul who clung to those she loved tightly. When she loved you, it was fiercely and with her whole heart. She was truly a force of nature, and will be forever missed by her family and friends.

She passed away peacefully on May 20th, 2025 at the age of 80, surrounded by the love of her family. She is preceded in death by her beloved mother Vona Fay and son Wade Morse, Jr. She is survived by her husband Raymond, daughter Tina, son-in-law Cooper, grandson Nathan and his fiancee Alyssa.