Donald Dong Donald Dong passed away peacefully after a long bout with cancer on June 13, 2007 at home surrounded by his family. He was born July 23, 1940 in Seattle, WA to Ned and Faye (Chinn) Dong. Donald attended school in Seattle and graduated from Garfield High School in 1958. After high school, he joined the Air Force and spent four years in Little Rock, AR. During this time he enjoyed the jazz scene in New Orleans, LA as well as being an alternate on the Air Force ping pong team. Donald returned to Seattle and in 1972 married Diane Tait. They lived in Sammamish, WA for 25 years. Their three children were born while their parents restored a 1914 farm house. After discharge from the military, Donald worked for the United States Postal Service for more than 30 years at the Air Mail Facility at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. He retired in 1995. Two years later the family moved to a small farm in west Mount Vernon. Donald was a life long rare blood donor. He started donating at the age of sixteen, while in high school, at the urging of his health teacher. He also contributed time and energy to many different community and school endeavors both in Sammamish and Skagit County, but always preferred to remain quietly in the background. Donald is survived by his wife Diane, sons Derick and Darron and daughter Deirdra, all of Skagit County. He is also survived by his brother, Ronald Dong and his wife Ella of Mountlake Terrace, plus one niece, one nephew, one great niece and one great nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. Many thanks are extended to all the medical practitioners in Skagit Valley and Seattle, as well as Skagit Hospice personnel, for their care of Donald thru out his long illness. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 a.m, Saturday, June 30, 2007 at the Avon United Methodist Church, 13743 Avon Allen Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Please share your thoughts of Donald and sign the online guest register at www.hawthornefh.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Skagit Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 2565, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon. Directions to Avon United Methodist Church: - North on I-5. Take Exit 230 - At end of exit ramp turn left (west) towards Anacortes - Go 2 miles to stop light turn left (south) on to Avon Allen Rd. - Go ¾ mile. The church is an old white church with a tall steeple on the left