Donna Rose Frease

Donna Rose Frease

November 4, 2024

Donna Rose Frease passed away peacefully at the age of 92 with family by her side after a long goodbye from Alzheimer’s disease. Donna was born in Seattle on February 9, 1932, to Lily and Robert Wheeler. She grew up with five sisters and one brother on Capitol Hill and graduated from Holy Names Academy.

She started her career as a secretary and worked in the King County prosecutor’s office, then attended schooling to become a paralegal secretary, working for several large law firms in Seattle until she retired in 1985.

Donna was a single mother of five children. With the two youngest still at home she moved her family to Bainbridge Island in 1972 for better schools. She commuted to Seattle to work every day and was known as the “hat lady” as she always wore a fashionable hat.

She enjoyed the opera, symphony, and local theatre productions. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved fashion. She made clothes for herself and dresses for her daughters and granddaughters. She was a volunteer for Bainbridge Light Opera making costumes in the 70’s

In 1979 she met Edgar Frease, the love of her life, and they were married in 1980 at the Manor House Inn on Bainbridge Island. She and Edgar designed and built a retirement home with a beautiful garden that was an entry in the Seattle Garden Show. The judges named it a “collectors garden” with a variety of trees and flowers that have something blooming all year long.

Donna and Edgar enjoyed working in their garden with their dogs. Donna also enjoyed knitting, classical music, and reading. Her collection of books included poetry, gardening, art, children’s books, and classics.

She and Edgar loved visits from family and friends, especially in the summer, when the garden was beautiful, and the weather was warm for swimming in the bay and digging clams. She so enjoyed her grandchildren, reading them books, cooking, playing games, and providing treats to all the children who came to visit with them.

Donna and Edgar were married for 35 years until Edgar’s death in September 2015.

Donna is survived by her children; Albert Brown Jr. of Marysville, WA, Annette Dougherty of Boise, ID, John Stevens (Sara) of Charlotte, NC, Stacy Stevens of Bainbridge Island, WA, stepchildren; Sharon (John) Bayne of Port Angeles, WA, Lynne (Kevin) McMahan, of Seattle, WA, Steve Frease (Sally) of Bainbridge Island, WA

She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren; Paul Dougherty, Donna Marie Filori (Richard), Clementine Dougherty (Russ), Albert Brown III, Jennifer Isrel (Tommy), Alexis Knight, (Des), Nicholas Lacy, Cheyenne Brown, Christine Coberley (Jason) Chris Bayne (Charlotte), Ann Marie Wilson (Thomas), David Bayne (Mary), Cathy Schuman (Jake), Aaron Frease (Kyra), Alison Plaut, Rachel Severyns (Jake) Robert Frease (Brie), Cecil Plaut, Kory McMahan (Ashley), Trevor McMahan, Daren Frease, and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Donna is preceded in death by Edgar her husband, her five siblings, son Gary Brown, daughter-in-law Hazel Brown, sister-in-law Eloise Day and Margaret Carman, stepdaughter Kim Plaut, stepson Edgar Frease Jr.

Her Family would like to thank the loving care given to her by the staff of Martha & Mary Memory Care Center in Poulsbo.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend a memorial on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 12 noon at St Cecilia Parish, Bainbridge Island Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Martha & Mary, Poulsbo. Family and friends are encouraged to sign the guestbook and share memories just below.

Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home