DONNA M. BLADES
January 1929- July 20, 2010
Donna M. Blades, 81, of La Conner, passed on July 20, 2010 with her husband Jerry and granddaughter Lisa at her side.
Donna was born to Ben and Violet Andrews in January, 1929, in Tieton, Washington, later joined by stepfather Al Klang.
Donna graduated in 1946 from Yakima High School. She was active in her local church youth group and worked in the same fruit warehouse packing cherries where she met her future husband Jerry. She also worked at JC Pennys and Jerry worked across the street at Lentz Hardware.
Jerry and Donna married in 1947 and began their family in 1948. They raised their three children all across the Pacific Northwest following Jerry's work in the electrical trades.
They finally landed at Madrona Beach on Camano Island where Donna opened up her beauty shop at Rocky Point.
She was a Campfire leader for more than 20 years and received the highest award from the Campfire organization. She was very involved in a cooking club and dress and costume making.
Their love of boating helped in the organization of Stanwood Camano Island Yacht Club. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and planning gatherings for family and friends.
In the late 1970s they disc
y covered La Conner and purchased La Conner Auto Parts and later purchased the Pier 7 building where Donna opened her second beauty shop, The Hair Parlor.
In the early '80s they purchased the La Conner Station building and moved the auto parts store to that location. Both buildings were eventually turned into mini-malls. They became members of the Swinomish Yacht Club and won first prize in one of the numerous boat parades they entered.
Donna was extremely active in La Conner town meetings and made her presence well known.
Her biggest love was their yearly travel to Arizona and Mazatlan, Mexico, but she also thoroughly enjoyed their travels to Spain, Russia, China, New Zealand and, most recently, Panama.
Her second biggest love was her Thomas Kincaid paintings.
She was preceded in death by both her parents and step dad, her sister Verla, of Monroe, and all three of her children David Blades, Linda Hansen and Lucy Gill, along with her loving cat Bandito.
Donna leaves behind her husband Jerry, her brother Edward Klang (Joanne Klang), grandchildren Lisa (Dave) Judy, Sheree (Guy) Pennington, Sara (Travis) Miller, and great-grandchildren Brandon Atwood, Britni Gallagher, Bryan Pennington, Lee Dougherty, Jayden Dougherty and Owen Miller.
Services will be held 10 a.m. July 29, 2010, at Gilbertson's Funeral Home in Stanwood, followed by internment, and a gathering at Stanwood American Legion at noon.
