Donna Lee Lehr

Donna was born July 6th, 1934 in Madison, Wisconsin to Mable and Reed Budd. She was the eldest of 10 children and raised in Fennimore where she attended and graduated from high school. She was about 4 years old when it was noticed that she had a musical talent. Donna began piano lessons and by the age of 13 she had exceeded her piano teacher's playing ability. She loved to play classical music especially Rachmaninoff. Her all time favorite was playing a "diddy for her Daddy", the Missouri Waltz, which we all grew to love as she played it everyday for him until recent years.

Her preciseness with her hands from playing piano even excelled her working career by being able to out type anyone else applying. When she typed it sounded like a Tommy Gun. She was one of the last dying breed of shorthand experts, able to take dictation as fast as people could talk. She would be promoted straight to the top becoming the Executive Assistant to the President at Johnson's Wax Company, her job after high school. It is here that people noticed her incredible voice and she joined the Johnson's Wax traveling choir. These skills followed her throughout her life's careers.

While working in Racine, Wisconsin she met her first husband, Robert Scheppe with whom she had her four loves of her life, Gregory, Peter, Kathleen, and Douglas. After separating from Bob she tried her best to provide for them as a single mother and worked very hard. She was so proud when she was able to find a progam that allowed her to purchase her first home for them in Viewridge East, Redmond, WA. This home was special to them and where her children made their lifelong friends that soon would feel like part of the family; especially Brian White, Brian Decker, Scotty Catlin, Dag Jenshus, and all of Kathi's large troop of friends.

In 1977 she met Kelly Lehr who became her husband just a year later and their lifelong journey began. They bought a house in Tamarak lane just a block from the Viewridge house which is where Kelly's children Dan and Debbie joined the bunch. Sunday dinners with Donna's famous Lasagna or Goulash served, was always a fun but very loud affair with all six children and friends attending. It would get so rambunctious at the Tamarak house that Donna and Kelly would go up to their master suite every afternoon for their own quiet time complete with appetizers. The house was always filled with friends, family and the wonderful sound of Donna's piano playing and singing.

In 1980 Donna and Kelly started Lehr Associates, a company that thrived selling airplane parts to Boeing. During this time and as the children grew and started their own lives and families they bought and moved to a new home in Woodridge, in Bellevue, WA. This house hosted many Christmas's and special events where the family would all come back together often. The next chapter of their lives was retirement and a new home built on Orcas Island where more family memories were created.

In retirement, Donna and Kelly enjoyed a few trips which included Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, the Virgin Islands, and Hawaii with Kelly's family. Her favorite travels were always back home to Wisconsin for the yearly Budd family reunions. A large portion of their retirement was spent cruising the San Juans on their beautiful boat Tanda and later Royal Eagle. They took several month long trips up the coast to Alaska with the Orcas Island Yacht Club which Donna truly enjoyed. She was First Mate for a year while Kelly was Commadore of the club. In later years they often took their trailer down to Palm Desert for part of the winter months.

Donna also enjoyed the Theater, Seattle Symphony and The Pops. One of her favorite pastimes was going to antique shops and Greg has fond memories of doing that with her in Snohomish. Her home was filled to the brim with beautiful pieces she picked up over the years at various shops. She always made the Holidays a special family time, although she couldn't cook a turkey to save her soul, she made the best pies! She also loved to share stories about her history which included the fact that there were several sets of twins on her side of the family. Donna was a sweet soul that didn't have a mean bone in her body. She rarely cursed and seldom drank. Only one drink would make her quite tipsy and entertaining at that!

She was the greatest Grandmother to her grandchildren, Karlisa, James Dean, Lacie, Brittany, Zachary, Paxtyn, Jaegar, Reed, Jenna, Cory, Katie, Trace, Parker, John, Lauren, and recently added to the bunch, Larry who Donna spent some time with as a young boy. She always called whoever became the youngest, "Peanut". She also lived long enough to meet some of her great grandchildren!

She was preceded in death by her father Reed, mother Mabel, sister Lori, and daughter Kathleen who will be greeting her in Heaven. She will be greatly missed here on this earth and never forgotten. We love you Donna!