Donna Claire Daniels

Donna Daniels was born July 19, 1928 to Russell and Ora Belle Scott in Bellingham Washington settling on the Winn Road in North Bellingham. She helped her dad with farm chores, milking the cows feeding the pigs and chickens and in the summer she would help bring in the hay she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty and could lift as much as her brother when it came to the field work.  Donna had 2 brothers (her twin Don) and (younger brother Bob) she has a sister (Dolores "Babe") and two half-sisters (Iris and Lois). 

Growing up Mom loved to ride her bike through North Bellingham meeting up with friends and staying with her Grandmother.  Her father was a miner in the Bellingham coal mines.  He would sometimes bring the horses used in the mines home to live out their lives.  Most of the horses were blind from life in the mines Mom would take care of them and sometimes ride them in the fields.

Donna was a teenager during World War II she lived close to the airport and would watch the planes and the soldiers as the came and went. She became a pen pal to some of the "boys" she met. During the war she would raise rabbits to sell to the market to earn money.  She said her family was very lucky to have the farm during the war years because they were never without food and could barter with the markets for other items they would need.  Donna shared the attic bedroom with her sister and would sometimes sneak out and hitch hike to Burlington to roller skate and meet up with friends.  Many times they would come home to a locked door and spend the night out in the barn.

Donna married Miles "Shorty" Daniels September 1950 and they had four children, Karen (1951), Kathy (1952), Kelly (1954) and Kevin (1957).  Even though we moved a lot we always lived close enough to our grandparents to share Sunday dinner with them and all the Uncles, Aunts and cousins.

Donna was a stay at home mom.  She kept the house spotless and there were always lots of flowers in the gardens and if we had room she would tend a small vegetable garden. She attended all our school plays, sports and parent teacher meetings.  Dad didn't make much money but she managed to make great meals for a family of 6 and over the years she would host the Thanksgiving dinners inviting friends and family.

Some of Mom's hobbies were bowling and gardening and she also loved to read books about the Alaskan "outback" especially about the bush pilots. Her biggest dream was to homestead in Alaska and live the adventurous life in the wilderness.

The family would spend most every summer camping.  Mom and Dad would load up the '58 Chevy Station Wagon with four kids sandwiched in between the camping gear and head up to the Canadian wilderness.  We would head for Williams Lake, Kamloops, 100 mile House, anywhere that was out of the way.  It was a great time for us we got to see the wilderness, travel dirt roads, see wild life and spend time together.  As we got older we would travel further North to Alexis Creek and Nimpo Lake and sometimes head down the Hope Princeton Highway as far as Barkers Ville. Just before Dad retired they bought seven acres in Winthrop WA and created a nice camp site where they would stay whenever Dad had the time off.  We would all meet at the camp site on vacations and enjoy being together. 

Dad passed away at the age of 85 in 2008

Mom had 5 kids, Michael who passed away at the age of 2 and a son Kelly at the age of 18. Surviving are two daughters Karen and Kathy and a son, Kevin and 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.