JoAnn Donaldson Gordenier died October 14, 2013 in Portland at the age of 91. She was born July 23, 1922 in Salem, the youngest child of Oscar Leonard Donaldson, Sr., and Ella Marya Comstock Donaldson. She attended Salem schools and graduated from Salem High School in 1940. As a teenager she worked as an usher at the new Elsinore Theater. After graduation she was employed as secretary for Governor Snell.

She married Douglas F. Gordenier on May 19, 1946. They moved to Medford, Oregon in 1954 where they lived until moving back to Portland in 2008. Known to her family as Mutti, she is survived by her husband Doug and four children; Stephen (Madlynn), Mary (Rollie) Rousseau, Susan (Alan) Wilson and Jeff (Karen), grandchildren Kelly Cutler, Erin Gordenier, Ashley Houston, Andy Wilson, Katie Collins, Maggie Emery, Rebecca Gordenier and six great grandchildren.

JoAnn and Doug were members of Zion Lutheran Church and Ascension Lutheran Church in Medford. She served for many years on the Britt Festival Board and volunteered regularly at the Jackson County Library. She and Doug traveled widely and toured North and South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. For several decades they made an annual trip to the Palm Desert area each winter and attended the international tennis tournament. For the past several years they have been residents of the Mirabella on the South Waterfront in Portland.

She was an avid tennis player and participated in league play into her 80s. She also loved reading, shopping, staying up late watching old movies on TV, visiting with friends, coffee, Jack Daniels and family Christmas celebrations.

The family would like to thank the phenomenal staff at the Mirabella Healthcare Center for the exceptional care they gave Mutti. She loved her “girls.”

A memorial service will be held on November 2, 2013 in Medford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in her name to the Lewy Body Dementia Association http://www.lbda.org/content/ways-to-give or the charity of your choice.

Facts Born: July 23, 1922
Place of Birth: Salem, OR
Death: October 14, 2013
Place of Death: Portland, OR