Donna May Harris

Donna May Harris (67) of Longview WA. passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving husband, Allan, and family by her side, on Monday November 13^th, 2023.

Donna was born April 7, 1956 in Cottage Grove, Oregon to James Wilson Bassett and Barbara May Mitchell.  She grew up in Cottage Grove, Oregon and loved being with her younger sister Dianne.  Donna would spend a lot of time with her grandparents, May and Harry Pollard also of Cottage Grove, Oregon.  She enjoyed being at her grandparents’ house where musical instruments were played and she also enjoyed their trips to the coast together.

Donna loved her music and choir classes at Cottage Grove High School.

Donna also loved her history teacher, Warren J. Harris, who unknowingly just happened to be her future father-in-law.  One day in the Cottage Grove Safeway cereal aisle, Donna saw her teacher Mr. Harris accompanied by his son, Allan.  Donna and Warren said hello to each other.  Allan was quickly intrigued by the beautiful Donna who had just passed by and inquired of his father about her.  Allan just happened to work with Donna’s stepfather, Quentin Mitchell at the railroad.  Allan made the phone call within the week in the spring of 1973 and there it began.

Donna and Allan married on October 5, 1974 in Cottage Grove, Oregon.  They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Oakland, CA temple on October 17, 1975.

Donna and Allan would live in Cottage Grove for many years, later moving to Phillipsburg, Kansas and later Longview, Washington.  Donna was never a fan of the Kansas experience, but was generally always supportive, minus the tornadoes, large insects, and unpredictable weather.  Allan and Donna would also live in Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri for Allan’s career to further test Donna’s patience with tornado warnings. 

Donna and Allan are the parents of five children. She loved her children. They were truly her greatest gift.  She was an amazing wife, mother and homemaker, literally the hardest job created.  When she wasn’t managing children, sports, music lessons, keeping a house of order and everything else it takes to manage home and family, she enjoyed reading, sewing, knitting and other crafts.  Donna enjoyed walks and the occasional jog.  She could also be caught doing her VHS Jane Fonda workouts on occasion.  

Donna was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and held many church callings throughout her life.  Donna and Allan most recently served as service missionaries assigned to the Cathlamet, WA branch and previously as Chuukese service missionaries and as addiction recovery service missionaries.  She loved her church service callings, especially involving music and teaching primary children.  She enjoyed being around missionaries and driving sister missionaries around to various appointments.  She loved sharing her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and what the Savior has made possible for everyone. The walls of her home are filled with reminders of the purpose of life with family pictures, Jesus Christ, temples, spiritual quotes, all covering every positive aspect of life and our purpose on earth.  Donna displayed her happiness with what she was forever known for, her beautiful smile.

Without a question Donna’s greatest happiness was her children and grandchildren.  If you didn’t know about them, she was for sure going to tell you about them.  This included anyone in any store checkout line.  She was a great example to her family, exemplifying many Christlike attributes of faith, love, charity, service, sacrifice, hope, gratitude and many others.  She was the center of the family and even though the kids have spread out all over the U.S. Donna would always keep in touch with everyone and inform all the family of the latest news.

Donna had an amazing singing voice and no doubt she’s already in a heavenly choir now.  She absolutely loved music.  She was always proud of her two amazing daughters for their vast accomplishments, especially their musical talents.  It brought so much joy to Donna to see and hear them play various instruments and sing.  Donna loved her three boys and was proud of their life accomplishments.  Donna would use her musically talented voice supporting her three sons in sporting events.  If she thought the referee made a bad call, she would use her beautiful voice to extend her opinion to the referee, often her voice would carry over the crowd.  This would continue when she supported her grandchildren in their sporting events.

Donna loved her husband so much and they supported each other in life.  They were a united team. Allan would come home for lunch most days so they could spend the hour together. As he left, you would always see Donna in the window waving goodbye, making the shape of a heart with her hands. Anywhere they went they were always hand in hand. He was the love of her life and always made her smile. Together they overcame many of life’s trials and raised an amazing family and enjoyed these later years with their family.  

Donna is survived by her loving husband Allan; five children: Spencer (Joy), Marty (Teddi), Todd, Jerilynn (Stephanie), Alison (Phil); 19 grandchildren, all of which were her life’s greatest joy.  Donna is survived by her mother, Barbara May Mitchell and sister Dianne Davison.

She is preceded in death by her father, James Wilson Bassett and step-father Quentin Mitchell.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 25th at 11:00am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 900 11th Ave. Longview WA 98632.