Donna Lee Gilmore

Donna Lee Gilmore, born on January 3, 1927, in Crook, Colorado, passed away on January 1, 2025, in Culver City, California, just days shy of her 98th birthday. Donna was a loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a resilient, hardworking woman who touched the lives of all who knew her.

Donna’s early years were marked by the challenges of the Great Depression. Her family moved to New Plymouth, Idaho, where they purchased a farm. Donna helped her father, Bill Pope, tend to the crops and animals, developing a strong work ethic that would stay with her throughout her life. She graduated from New Plymouth High School and joined the Cadet Nursing Program during World War II, which ended with the conclusion of the war.

At 19, Donna married Paul Gilmore Jr. on June 9, 1946, when he returned to New Plymouth after serving in the war. They lived in a small house in town that Donna’s father had helped build. In her early working years, Donna took a job at Ore-Ida as a potato harvester, earning 10 cents an hour. Later, Donna would become the manager and owner of a dry cleaning plant in California.

In 1951, Donna and Paul moved to Freeway Park in Anaheim, California, where they raised their four children. In 1963, they relocated to Orange, California, where Paul opened "Plant Boys Nursery" and Donna managed and later purchased Montgomery Cleaners. In Anaheim, they lived on a large plot of land in the orange groves, where their children had ample space to play and were surrounded by an array of pets, including pigeons, rabbits, dogs, and roosters. Donna’s creativity, resilience, and work ethic defined her, as she balanced long days of work with raising a family and maintaining a loving home.

Donna was known for her boundless energy and her love for life. She enjoyed square dancing, bowling, camping, fishing, and always had a jigsaw puzzle on the game table. Her infectious sense of humor and witty nature made her a joy to be around. Despite her busy life, she made sure that every night her family had a home-cooked meal at the table, and her love for music and dance was always present in their home.

Donna was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Paul Gilmore Jr., her sister and brother-in-law Beulah and Kenneth Clatfelter, and her parents, Lawrence and Elsie Pope. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Shirley and Dean Anderson; four children Rex Gilmore (Lisa), Myra Karas (Mike), Jack Gilmore (Monica), and Larry Gilmore; grandchildren Vanessa Gilmore (Jeff), Ryan Gilmore (Jennifer), Brittany Gilmore, Natalie Karas-Ivankovich (Joe), Brett Karas (Erin), Valerie Gilmore, Nick Gilmore, Bradley Gilmore, Lauren Gilmore, as well as 10 great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held for Donna on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Westminster Memorial Park Main Chapel. A service will follow at 1:30 p.m., with a graveside service to follow in the Westminster Memorial Park Garden of Remembrance.

Donna’s legacy of hard work, love, and resilience will live on in the hearts of her family, friends, and all who were lucky enough to know her. She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.