Donna Marie Bayer
May 22, 1936 - August 20, 2008
Obituary
Donna Marie Bayer
May 22, 1936-August 20, 2008
Donna Bayer, beloved mother and diehard Cougar fan, has gone to ‘the other side’ after her latest struggle with cancer. Her courage in death is as inspirational as the way she lived her life. She will be remembered by many for her generosity, compassion, down-to-earth sense of humor and her loyalty to her friends and family.
One of 12 children born in Oak Park, IL to Frank & Beatrice Kraman, she had a life-long love of music, theatre and sports. She married Ben Bayer in 1955 and moved 13 times in 20 years, first as a Navy wife, later following Ben as his jobs moved him around the country. They finally settled in Federal Way in 1975. Donna worked in transportation for Norton Lilly Co., as office manager for St. Teresa’s Catholic Church for many years, and as office manager for 2 local homeowners associations. She served a term on the Seattle Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, filled many roles with the Puget Sound Musical Theatre, and was adopted as a Washington State Cougar Alumni in October of 2004. She was a first-rate crossword puzzle worker, enjoyed needlepoint, card-playing and golf.
She is preceded in death by her husband Ben, children Ben Jr. and Jane Katherine and many family members. Donna leaves behind son Paul Lori, daughter Geffen George, son Jim, grandchildren Steven Mishaela, Loren and Melinda, and great-grandchildren Kelly, Caleb, Kyle and Nikita. We’ll miss you, Maw-Maw, and will enjoy the memories of kolache, Cougars and Christmases.
Services will be held at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church on Monday, August 25th starting with the rosary at 10:30 am, followed by a memorial mass and reception at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Franciscan Foundation for their Hospice House at https://www.fhshealth.org/foundation/online_donate_bridge.asp
Aunt Donna was so inspiring and so much fun, whenever I was fortunate enough to get together with her. Her loss is deeply felt, with love and admiration.
Having been through this, my heart goes out to you, Geffen, Paul and Jim! Jim – I remember how crazy my mom, Ellen, was about you when you were little.
A great lady is at peace. God bless you, Aunt Donna, it was a pleasure to know you.
As my cousin Bob Bayer III remembers in his message here, Donna had a tremendous sense of fun. She could make any occasion a party. I remember her dancing once holding onto a door knob as a “partner.” Now I will admit that a cocktail or two had been had, but that isn’t the point. She clearly loved life and made it her mission to make sure everyone was having a good time. She had a marvelous imagination and was always inclusive. Everybody was welcome.
Donna’s faith, even in the face of personal tragedy, never waivered and she was an inspiration and an example to me.
She will be missed by many, many people but her legacy lives on in her three terrific children who are a tribute to the values she held dear.
I am feeling cheated that we didn’t have more time but also fortunate to have had the time we had.
Thank you Geffen for your amazing job of keeping all of us informed about Donna’s last weeks.
May Donna rest in peace and thanks for giving us our great great friend Paul !
Dee, Dana
It was inevitable, I think, that a Bayer sibling and a Kraman sibling would unite the two families. How fortunate for us on the Bayer side to share in the warmth, love, fun and humor of the Kramans. Donna was our “bridge” and I will miss her.
Much love, Geffen, Paul and Jim from your almost-unknown cousin, Dorrie. I am holding you in my thoughts and prayers.
Donna and her brothers and sisters
were all friends of mine more than
forty years ago in La Grange, IL.
She was a very special lady and we
shared many laughs together. especially when she and Ben and Paul and Geffen moved to Aurora. We were neighbors then and her sense of humor kept us all going a
good deal of the time – God has a
special place for her and she will
undoubtedly have them all laughing
in heaven. God bless her!
To all Donna’s family and friends, accept my condolences. You had such a short time to deal with her illness, and now it will take a long time for the pain to subside. I hope you can focus on the memories of happier times with Donna.
-Marge
We had the great privilege to travel with Donna over the past several years. We enjoyed her passion for life, her wonderful whit and humor. We will carry a piece of “Chicken Hawk” in our memories forever.
Shari & Gail
Donna was such a dear sweet friend.We shared our ups and downs with the cougars victories and defeats. She always tried so hard to score a ten at crushing cans at the games. We shared quiet happy times at the lake as well. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. STRENGTH IN FAITH. We will miss you so. We will blow a kiss to the heavens with every cougar touchdown.
Cousins Jim, Paul, Geffen and families, My heart goes out to you all. Aunt Donna was one of a kind and will be missed by all. I remember younger days when someone was leaving from a visit at the train station, it was Donna’s idea to give them a “crazy hat” sendoff. She had this hamper full of some of the wierdest headgear I’ve ever seen. So there we were, looking stupid, making noise and saying goodbye. Monday, I’ll say a prayer and wear a crazy hat. God Bless to you all.
Donna will be missed. We are thankful we could know and enjoy her and privileged we could call her friend. We love you.
Jerry and Joan Bush
Donna was a wonderful person and a true joy to know! Her enthusuastic attitude and smile were contagious! I’m honored to call her friend and am thankful that I knew her. May God provide comfort to us all as we adjust to life without Donna.
I’ll miss you Donna! Go Cougs!
Love,
Nancy
We met Donna while traveling with the Traveling Cougars to a UCLA game to watch our son and his team play the Bruins and knew right away that Donna would be one of our favorite people in the whole world. We loved to spend time with Donna mostly at Cougar events but really enjoyed it when she and Linda came to visit us in Georgia for the Masters Tournament in 2006. Donna, you will be missed but we have our cherished memories and will always have you in our hearts. Until we meet again, good friend, farewell.
There are many wonderful memories of traveling with Donna and the Cougars. One delightful memory of this great White Sox fan is when we were staying on the California coast, the White Sox had won the Series that evening and soon there came a loud banging on our door. She wanted to celebrate with John and me. Oh, how we will miss her enthusiasm for life.
Our loving wishes to Paul and Lori – and the rest of the family – so glad you were able to be with her Paul. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all but especially on Monday we will be with you in spirit and I will pray my rosary for all of you. Jane and Andrew Gallow
To: The Bayer Cousins Paul, Geffen, Jimand families
From: The Frank Kraman family Aunt Eleanor and cousins Mary, Mike, Rese, Donna, Carol, Annie and families
One of our earliest cousin memories of “Aunt Donna Bayer” was a summer vacation trip to Chicago when we were all little. Aunt Donna was able to yell at all 9 of us cousins that “it was time to go to bed and get some sleep!” when all we wanted to do was stay up all night playing cards and talking. She was able to yell at us because we loved her like a Mom, as we’re sure she loved Auntie Agnes Kraman.
At family reunions we’d think “Great! Donna Bayer will be there!” as we could always count on her to tell a good story to get the party started and conversation going. She was great about remembering little things about all of us.
We love being in such a large extended family with 30+ first cousins and 20+ aunts and uncles in the Bayer/Kraman/Wolf families. Great visits to great places.
Donna was also a great role model for her faith. We’re sure that Donna joins her other brothers and sisters and family with God they’re having a party to celebrate her arrival now!
Lots of love and prayers to Paul, Geffen, Jim and families…remember having to line up according to age and taking pictures?…
p.s. I’ll be in morning mass on Monday thinking about Donna Bayer.
Blessings and peace to the family and loved ones.
Dear Jim, Paul, and Geffen and family. I will always remember the time I spent with your mom, when we worked together at St. Theresa’s.Your mom was the one who got me interested in Musical theater, whose laugh was unmistakeable and contagious! I also have never met such an avid Couger fan in my whole life! She was always good to me and I will cherish her memory always. My deepest sympathies to you all, God rest her soul.