Donna Lee (Wilkerson) Pauley died on Friday, April 8, 2011. She was the beloved wife of Ralph E. Pauley who preceded her in death. Their gravestone is engraved with "Together Forever" which epitomizes their 59 years of marriage. Donna spent her life focusing on her family. They were the center of her universe. She spent years caring for a "handsome young army man." She wrote letters to him everyday for two years, six months, and three days as he spent time in occupied Germany and cared for him many other years, as they grew old together. She was the mother of two, Gayle D. Pauley - her daughter and Glenn A. Pauley - her son. She modeled the true behavior of a caring, loving mother and gave each of her children a love of family. She was the mother-in-law to Rosann and recognized John as part of her daughter's life. She was the grandmother of three, wonderful, talented grandchildren. Daniel, who learned from her the importance of keeping a promise; Vivian who learned that women should have a mind of their own and a heart to give to others; and Ray, who learned that words are not always needed to convey strength of character. She considered Patty Hoff as her Bellingham daughter, and thought of her family as if they were her own. She has a brother, Bill, and dear sister-in-law, Annette, still in Texas as well as many loved nephews and nieces. She was also the "BAND MOM" and touched hundreds of student's lives as they played in concerts, marched in parades; a teacher for students who learned English, checked out books, learned reading and mathematics in her classroom. She always said that she was a consumer of music - she listened as Ralph's bands played but she was also a musician in her own right, as she sang in her school choirs at White Deer High School and at Sul Ross College. But, most importantly, she always sang with her children, riding the millions of miles driving across Texas to get to family gatherings and ultimately on the move to Washington. Celebration of her life will be held on April 23, 2011, at 2 PM, at Moles Greenacres Funeral Home, followed by a gathering at the family home. She loved roses and birds and the family suggests that you feed the birds or plant a rosebush in her honor. Or, you may make a donation to the Ralph Pauley Scholarship Fund through the Bellingham Alumni Band.