Audrey Elaine Donnel

Audrey Elaine Donnel (née Knowlton), a true Seattle native whose life was defined by unwavering faith and deep devotion to her family, passed away on October 15, 2026 at the age of 92.

Born in Seattle on September 15, 1934, during the Great Depression, Audrey was the daughter of Seattle natives Daniel Waldo and Sheila Lucille (Lambert) Knowlton. Growing up in the city, she developed a rich memory of Seattle's neighborhoods and local history, often recalling her father commuting daily on the Madison Street trolley line.

Although her parents taught her childhood prayers, the family did not formally attend church. Audrey’s personal faith journey began in the fourth grade when a classmate invited her to Sunday School at a neighbor’s house. For an Easter program, she memorized Psalm 23 simply because it had the fewest verses, yet the Scripture took permanent root in her heart. In high school, after being invited to a church Halloween party, Audrey began walking over a mile every Sunday to attend services. In April 1951, at age 16, she was "gloriously saved" under the ministry of Pastor Roy, establishing the lifelong Christian foundation that would guide her character and her family.

When she was about 17 years old, Audrey met Harris Donnel outside Ballard Baptist Church, cordially offering him a stick of gum before a young adult boat trip. They built a strong connection and maintained a faithful correspondence while Harris served in Korea as an Army hospital corpsman. After high school, Audrey worked for over a year in the blueprint office at the Boeing Airplane Company.

Audrey and Harris were married on January 2, 1954. Due to construction delays at their planned church, last-minute postcards redirected guests to Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, where her brother Noel secretly drove the newlyweds away to protect them from traditional wedding pranks. The couple moved into a small home on 35th Avenue NE, and Audrey continued working until shortly before the birth of their first child, Harley. Over the next five years, they welcomed Terry, Elaine, and Becky.

During those early years, Audrey managed the demanding responsibilities of raising four young children while Harris worked swing shifts and attended the University of Washington. Her home was always full of love, even welcoming her brother and his two-year-old child, Mike, for a time.

Despite a busy household, Audrey remained deeply active in ministry through Sunday School, Daily Vacation Bible School, and women's groups. She faithfully steered her family through severe trials, finding immense gratitude in her son Dave's miraculous recovery from a life-threatening infantile bowel condition. As her children grew, she worked school hours to support their Christian school tuition, and later worked for Microfilm Services in Lake City. Years later, the family was surprised and delighted by the birth of her youngest daughter, Tricia, just two days after Christmas. Audrey joyfully embraced motherhood at every stage, serving as the devoted heart of her family across 70 years of marriage.

Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, Harris, in December 2024, and her brother, Noel Knowlton, in March 2024. She is survived by her six children and their spouses: Harley and Dixie Donnel, Terry and Dale Kaemingk, Elaine and Steve Nibler, Becky and John Vermeer, David and Vicky Donnel, and Tricia and Casey Alexander. She also leaves behind a remarkable legacy of 26 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.

Her life of quiet strength, faithful endurance, and deep love beautifully reflected the promise of 2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Shoreline Christian Reformed Church (14555 25th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155).