Donna Mae James

Donna Mae James (October 9, 1938 - May 16, 2026) was born in Eugene, Oregon, to Boyd and Inez Hebert. Donna grew up in Springfield, Oregon, and graduated from Springfield High School in 1956. After high school, she moved to Portland, Oregon, and completed her education and testing to become a licensed beautician. Styling hair was one of her loves, along with embroidery, cross stitch, and gardening. Donna was generous in gifting her embroidery artwork on a regular basis that included pillowcases, dish towels, tablecloths, and blankets. Throughout the years, she entered her work in the Lane County Fair where she won 1st place awards.

Donna was an avid fan of football and basketball. She regularly watched the NFL and NBA along with her hometown college team—Go Ducks!

She had a love for cooking and used this skill while working on the U of O campus as a head cook for various fraternities and sororities. She reported how much she enjoyed the relationships she developed with the students. Donna also worked at Costco where she greeted and served customers.

She lived frugally but gave generously. Donna had a spirit of giving which translated to many of the activities she engaged in throughout her life. She found joy in serving and giving to others and was devoted and loyal to her family and friends. She had a strong faith in God and regularly kept a prayer list and sought help, guidance, and wisdom from God.

Donna will be dearly missed by her family and the friends she made along the way.

Donna is preceded in death by her parents and her sister Phyllis Joyce Hebert. She is survived by her three children: Lavonna Kofstad (Tim), Cindy McLaughlin (Vic), and Tim James (Sarah), her brothers Robert Hebert (Karen) and Chuck Hebert (Suzanne), along with several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

“God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

If you would like to honor Donna with an action, consider donating to the Humane Society or adopting a cat (as she treated every cat, she met as one of her own).