Donna Stafford

On August 1, 2018, Donna Stafford was set free! Donna passed surrounded by family at North Idaho Schneidmiller Hospice House, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, ending a forty year battle of respiratory complications and COPD.

Donna Iva Wright was born in Cass Lake, Minn., Aug. 29, 1922. At the age of 10 months her family moved to Bremerton, Wash., where she grew up and attended school. In 1942 she came to Coeur d’Alene, and during World War II she worked as an executive assistant at Alcoa Aluminium, which later became Kaiser Aluminum. Donna’s professional career included being an administrative assistant to both the mayor and city treasurer during the 1950s. Later, after her daughters were in school, Donna was a sales associate for Clark’s Jewelry. Her years of volunteering were dedicated to both Trinity Lutheran and Christ the King Lutheran churches.

Donna Wright and Milton Stafford were married in 1948. Their lives were filled with love, laughter and memory making. In the early years, family tent-camping trips, stream fishing and lots of baseball at Memorial Field, where Milt played ball for the CDA Lakesiders, kept them busy. Later, summers were spent at their lake place on Coeur d’Alene Lake, where Mom always out fished Dad with her beloved black fishing pole. Travels included Alaska cruises (Mom wouldn’t fly, so they always had to depart from Seattle), and a cross-country road trip to see the USA! Golfing with their beloved, life-long friends, “The Dirty Dozen” were always fun adventures. They played courses from here to Canada.

Granddaughter, Silky, wrote the following about her Grandma after reading Proverbs 31:10-31, “Grandma was far more precious than rubies. She was the most patient, kind and loving person. She worked with her hands- always knitting, baking Christmas cookies, playing cards, doing crossword puzzles and gardening. She read voraciously and often fell asleep with the book on her face. She provided food for her family. No one went home hungry from Grandma’s. She always had a stash of candy, chocolate and ice cream. She opened her arms to the poor and extended her hands to the needy. Grandma was a strong fighter and never gave up. She was a classy, elegant lady. She spoke words of wisdom. Grandma always knew how to comfort and give advice. Please give her the reward she has earned and let her works bring her praise at the gates of heaven.”

Donna was an accomplished artist. To this day, her paintings hang in homes and businesses around the city. She was the matriarch of her family and we all knew she was the boss. The love of her family was the highlight of her life and she lived through all of our accomplishments and adventures.

Donna was preceded in death by her mother, Cecil Wright and father, Lyle Wright; brothers, Doug, Pete and David and sisters, Barbara and Linda. She is survived by the last of the Wright gang: sister, Sharon Mille; her husband of 70 years, Milton; daughters Lynn (Harry) Lauer, Julie (Chris) DeBarbrie; brother-in-law Robert (Pat) Stafford; sister-in-law Betty (Jim) Glaspie; grandchildren, Brian (Lara) Lauer, Kirk (Angie) Lauer, Trevor (Misty) DeBarbrie and Silky (Ryan) Johnson; great-grandchildren, Chase (Rachel) Stoltey-Lauer, Mitchell Lauer and Shay Louise DeBarbrie and step-grandsons, Wyatt and Tucker Gibbar. Also surviving Donna are her many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

For the last six years, Milt and Donna called Garden Plaza and The Bridge of Post Falls home. There are no words that will justly express the gratitude we have to the staff and caregivers who loved and cared for Donna. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Maggie and Tanya, Donna’s Hospice nurses, who attended to her every need and guided her family for the past two years. The team of Hospice nurses who helped Donna complete her journey to her heavenly home are forever appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, consider giving a memorial donation to Hospice of North Idaho Schneidmiller Hospice House. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Viewing will take place at 10 a.m., with services at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at the church. Private family services will be held at Forest Cemetery.

English Funeral Chapel has been entrusted with Donna’s care and arrangements.