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Donna Kay Shaw
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Donna was born July 27, 1942, to Warren and Olivia Wood in Healdsburg, California.
The family moved to Sebastopol shortly thereafter to be closer to Warren's work with the Soil Conservation Service of the USDA. Property was purchased, an apple orchard added, and a new residence built. Picking apples became a family project that provided money for school clothes.
Each Sunday the Wood kids, Donna, older brother, Bill and younger sisters, Jeanie and Karen would march off to Sunday School and Church Services. At one point Donna was a member of the local swim team. She used to complain that the lane barriers always got in her way. A farm girl needed to be kept busy so she became a member of the Girl Scouts and 4-H along with many of her friends.
As the years passed by Donna attended all of the Sebastopol schools. After graduation from Analy High School she transferred over to Santa Rosa Junior College. While at SRJC she, her brother and many friends joined the large Hiking Club. One of the members was a good friend of her future husband, Steve Shaw.
One evening, Steve's good friend encouraged the two to attend a basketball game at SRJC. Once in the basketball gym this friend took Steve over to meet some of the Hiking Club members and to share a space to watch the contest.
During the game there was this one Hiking Club girl who caught Steve's eyes who was outgoing, friends with everyone, full of energy, and had a wonderful smile … that was Donna. Eventually Steve and Donna hooked up and became a regular pair on the campus. On June 6, 1964, they married.
Moving to Lakeport, Steve's new job site was exciting as well as anxious. Donna obtained a job in the high school library for a couple of years. Son Douglas was born in 1967 and daughter Kimberly in 1970. As the children aged they were placed in the United Christian Parish Sunday School program. It was during this time that Donna stepped up to be a Sunday school teacher for many years.
As an active member of the parish she was elected to several positions, two of which she really enjoyed: Deacon and Elder. When her children entered the preschool era, Donna volunteered to help. One of her enjoyable jobs was working with Bonne Ewing and their preschool that was run out of United Christian Parish.
In the early 1980s she returned to college to secure an early childhood teaching certificate. Eventually she opened up her own preschool "Play N' Learn" in their converted garage. Over the 25 plus years many children knew her as Miss Donna. In addition to her preschool work she managed to help Steve transport his high school Cross Country runners to meets. Donna also worked with her daughter, Kim in 4-H as she progressed through the ranks.
Guide Dogs for the Blind filled our lives with joy and sadness especially when a dog moved on to its new owner.
Following Steve's retirement from teaching and coaching, Donna hung up her whistle. A new life of Civil War reenacting took place for about 18 years, trips across the United States, participating in the Oregon California Trails Association, and visitations to numerous Civil War and Revolutionary War sites.
Retired life was going very nicely for Donna when several joint operations and a major disease required her to be bedridden for the last five to seven years. Her last major disease treatment was to take place this month. Hence, Donna was starting to plan our next adventure.
A graveside service was held at Hartley Cemetery on Friday, June 14.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
