Obituary of Donna Louise Vermillion

Donna Vermillion, 82, of Union, Washington passed away August 5, 2018 at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle. She was a loving and vibrant wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, friend, entrepreneur, and teacher. Born Donna Louise Jenkins on November 5, 1935 in Great Falls, Montana, Donna was the daughter and only child of Marvin Edward Jenkins and Magdalena Barbara (Gutenberg) Jenkins. Her mother was the daughter of German-Russian immigrants who came to America in 1899 from the Strassburg colony on the Black Sea near Odessa, Russia. Her father was a descendent of several lines of colonial Americans and German immigrants on his mother’s side. Donna spent most of her childhood in Great Falls and was a 1953 graduate of Central Catholic High School. A smart and talented young woman, she was involved in high school theater productions and won the local “Voice of Democracy” contest in 1952, going on to compete at the State level. After high school Donna attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington where she was a member of the university glee club and SPURS National Honor Society. A beautiful singer, Donna “Cheech” Jenkins performed locally with her band while attending college. At Gonzaga she met her lifelong love and partner, Jerry Vermillion. They married on July 2, 1955 in Spokane. They moved to Shelton, Washington shortly thereafter, and then to Lacey where they raised their five children. While raising their children, she spent her summers in Westport, Washington with the family and their business enterprises, finished her Bachelor’s degree in Education from St. Martin’s College in 1970, and started her teaching career. During her career, she received a Masters degree in Counseling from Central Washington University. In the late 1990’s, Donna retired from Littlerock Elementary School where she influenced the lives of countless children, made many friends, and was well respected by her colleagues. After leaving teaching, Donna enjoyed running several small businesses with her husband, being involved in public organizations, and living on the Hood Canal. But her greatest joy was being with her children, grandchildren and extended family, whom she loved to have over and share her home with. She will be dearly missed. Surviving are her daughter Scarlette Gilster and her husband Paul; son Scott Vermillion and his wife Carmen; son Mark and his wife Tamara; daughter Mia Lynne Harrison and her husband Todd; daughter Carol Cooke; 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews-in-law. Donna was preceded in death by her husband Jerry and her parents. Funeral services will be held 11am Saturday, September 15th in Shelton, Washington at St. Edward Catholic Church 601 West "C" Street. Following the funeral services and inurnment, a Memorial Reception will be held at the Church.