Obituary of Donna Kay Harper Wilson

Donna Kay Harper Wilson was born on August 11, 1963, to Charles Edward Harper and Ida Mae Dillard Harper in Columbus, Georgia. She passed away February 18, 2024, in Lacey, Washington.

Donna attended Lydia Hawk Elementary, Nisqually Middle School, and graduated from Timberline High School in 1981 in Lacey. She went on to earn an AA Degree from Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan.

On April 16, 1988, she married Jack Wilson and together raised their two sons, Jacob and Joshua.  While Jack served in the military, the family lived for several years in North Carolina, Hawaii, Michigan, and ultimately back to Washington. During that time, Donna had several careers, none of which she enjoyed more than the years she spent at the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems. 

 

Donna lived a life of faith, charity, and family, always putting the interests of others above her own. As a young woman in school, Donna joined The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and took an oath to “respect our parents, become involved with the church of our choice, be a true friend, be patriotic, and be of service to others.” She lived those words every day of her life, working relentlessly for the betterment of her family, church, community, and society in general. One project was particularly dear to her heart. She and her church participated in Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, that has delivered millions of gift-filled shoeboxes to boys and girls around the world. Donna’s family requests donations honoring Donna to be gifted to her church so this wonderful tradition can continue in her memory.

 

Donna loved the simplest things in life. She loved nature walks and having her National Parks Passport filled with stamps. She loved music and dance, yellow flowers, and The Bay City Rollers. She loved her Seahawks, Spooner Farms strawberries, cheesecake, and Jane Austen books. She loved travel, museums, Italian food, Sean of the South, the beach, and her dog, Marble. She was hard working, honest, honorable, and held herself to the highest of standards.  She made life better for those around her and everyone who knew her is better off for that experience.    

 

Donna is loved and greatly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her mother, Ida Harper; husband, Jack Wilson; sons, Jacob and Joshua Wilson; and sisters, Debra F. Harper Lazara (Ron) and Dora M. Harper Duval (Randy). She is blessed to have aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews who will remember her fondly.

 

Donations in Donna’s honor may be made to First Baptist Church of Lacey, 4705 22^nd Ave. SE, Lacey, WA 98503.

 

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