Donna Eldred died peacefully in her sleep at home in Patterson, N.Y., July 22, 2004, at the age of 62 following an extended illness with cancer. Donna had served as an ordained minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses with the world headquarters staff in New York for more than 33 years. Max Larson, administrator with Watchtower for more than 60 years, originally from Skagit County, presided over the memorial service held at Watchtower Educational Center in Patterson, N.Y., July 29. There were 1,150 present for the services. Burial was at the Watchtower Cemetery in Wallkill, N.Y.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Marjorie Mitchell, and her brother James and sister Candace. She is survived by her husband Richard Eldred of Patterson, N.Y.; stepmother Clara Mitchell of Bellingham; sister-in-law Bonnie Wallace of Lynden; aunt Frances Fulbright, formerly of Bellingham, now of Pullman; uncle Robert Mitchell of Sumas; nieces, Sara Hyatt of Stanwood and Mylinda Bentley of Custer; nephew Dean Mitchell of Ferndale; cousins Ken Imus of Bellingham, Sandra Schaffer of Ferndale, Scott Mitchell of Everson, Gregory Fitzgerald of Wenatchee, Penny Piotter of Fairfield, Calif., Marjorie Neill of Pullman, and numerous other direct and extended family members.
Donna married Richard Eldred in 1965 and together they settled in Skagit County where he worked for the Skagit County Engineers. Donna developed her ministry first with the Mount Vernon Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses and then the Anacortes Congregation. She became well known throughout Skagit, Island and San Juan counties. In 1971 she and Richard were reassigned to New York to begin their volunteer work with the world headquarters staff of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
In addition to Donna’s ministerial duties she was noted as an accomplished musician in instruments and voice. She used her talents to train young and old alike to lift up their voices in beautiful melody. Donna received 12 years of formal training in singing using the Bel Canto or natural voice projection method. She was able to share techniques in word formation, voice projection and harmonious singing. Prior to graduation in 1960 she also sang in Bellingham school productions such as “Showboat”and “The King and I.”
Her friends describe her as being a kind, caring, giving, sensitive woman who engenders respect for the organization that she represents. She is known for her keen observations that have been, according to the ones receiving it, “of immense and meaningful encouragement.” To both her friends and family, Donna has always been known as a spiritual person.
Through all of her lengthy illness she has kept her focus on God’s promises of what lies ahead — life in a paradise where she would be able to welcome back her loved ones that have fallen asleep in death [John 5:28, 29]. Now asleep in death, Donna awaits that hope. We are saddened by the death of our dear Donna. But we too look forward to the wonderful day when “death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more” – Rev. 21:4.
