Donna L. Carlman, born a daughter of Fay and Hazel Richards on Aug. 23, 1926, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, March 14, 2018.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jack; her brothers Edward, Monte, Jim and Ben; and a grandson, Caleb.
She is survived by her sisters Barbara Kanen and Kathleen Nyholm; four children, Stephen (Deb) Carlman, Dan Carlman, Gail (Gary) Schoolland and Laura (Jim) Ungersma; 19 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Mom was born in Vancouver, Washington, and grew up near Hockinson where she spent many hours playing in Salmon Creek with her siblings and enjoying homemade music in the evenings. She attended Washington State College (now WSU) and then worked at Barnes Hospital. She married Jack Carlman on May 25, 1952. Jack was in the Air Force, so they traveled to various military assignments, building and raising a close and loving family along the way. In 1967 they settled in Eatonville on 32 acres, where they spent the next 33 years. Mom was good at so many things: gardening, canning, tole painting, calligraphy, sewing, quilting. She was a servant, content to be working in the background, making gifts to give away or bringing meals to shut-ins.
In 2000 Mom and Dad moved to Lakewood and then to Lynden in 2005 to be nearer their daughters. Mom had a strong faith in God and loved to be in His Word and with His people. Her greatest desire was that all of her children and grandchildren would know the Lord and serve Him and she prayed for all of us faithfully.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 29, in the United Reformed Church of Lynden, 8650 Benson Rd. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 31, in the Tacoma Christian Reformed Community Church, 2419 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, followed by a 2 p.m. graveside service in Fir Lane Memorial Park, 924 E. 176th St., Spanaway, WA.
