Donna Rae Carlile

Donna Rae Carlile (Evans) was born on December 27, 1939, to parents Bryan S. and Florence Evans in Vincennes, Indiana. She passed away peacefully in Eugene, Oregon on February 17, 2026. She was 86 years old.

She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1957 where she participated in various sports, clubs and activities. For a time, she worked at the local newspaper and attended Vincennes University. She met her first husband, Paul W. Reuter, of Robinson, Illinois, a short time after graduation. After a brief engagement they were married in July of 1958. In May 1959, their first child, Kurt was born. She and Paul lived in many places during their first years of marriage while he finished college and pursued his career. These included Indiana, Illinois, Washington, and Michigan eventually settling in Springfield, Oregon. During their time in Michigan, their second son Kris, was born in 1969.

Tragically, in 1973, her husband Paul was killed in an auto accident while travelling on business. Being a single mother, her focus shifted to pursuing a career of her own. For a while she sold Tupperware and attended classes at Lane Community College. After much consideration she decided to become a Realtor. Her determination, perseverance and outgoing personality served her well proven out by a career that lasted more than 35 years.

Early in her career she began working for Transland Realty and met the second love of her life, Robert (Bob) Carlile. The two of them were very successful in their work culminating in Bob opening his own Real Estate Sales company. They were married in 1980 and began a long and fulfilling relationship that lasted over 40 years. This marriage brought two step children in to her life, Mark and Vicki.

Donna truly loved spending time with her grandchildren. She proudly cheered them on at sporting events, and helped them celebrate birthdays, graduations and marriages. Her most cherished time with them was sitting around the kitchen table playing cards and games and backyard BBQ’s.

Work hard and play hard was her approach to life. She enjoyed many hobbies, activities and interests throughout her life. She and Bob loved hunting, fishing, and travelling together. They spent one winter travelling to the tip of Baja, Mexico in their RV. Trips abroad included many destinations such as China, Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands and several European countries.

When not working or travelling one of their favorite places was the Oregon Coast. She and Bob owned a cabin on Heceta Beach, near Florence, Oregon, for over 25 years. So many great memories were made with family and friends at this special place salmon fishing, crabbing and just enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Ocean.

Donna was very driven and had an adventurous side as well. She loved flying and that led her to pursue her private pilot’s license. Her determination and persistence were rewarded when she became a pilot in 1978. Her entire family was very proud of this accomplishment.

Donna was also an avid golfer. She and Bob were members of Springfield Country Club (now Pine Ridge) for nearly 20 years. This was one of her “Happy Places”. She made many friends while there and looked back on those days with much joy.

Having children that attended the University of Oregon, Donna became an avid Duck fan. She looked forward to rooting on the Football team every Saturday. She also followed the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams. She especially liked attending Women’s games and watching her favorite player, Sabrina Ionescu. One of her prized possessions was a photo with Sabrina whom she once met at the Original House of Pancakes where she went for breakfast before every home game.

Anyone who knew Donna was also aware that she was a dedicated Bridge player. She thoroughly enjoyed playing for many years which led to a widened circle of friends from the Willamalane and Campbell Senior Centers.

Support of her community was also something Donna believed in strongly. She was a volunteer for the SMART Reading program in public schools for several years. It gave her a great deal of joy to see children learn to read and the excitement they had being able to read on their own.

Another of her volunteer experiences took place at Sacred Heart and River Bend Hospitals. She volunteered in the Gift Shops and was a member of the Sacred Heart Hospital Guild for over twenty years. She loved meeting people and helping them find just the right gift for someone spending time in the hospital.

Donna will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Paul W. Reuter, sister, Judith K. Evans of West Palm Beach, Florida and second husband, Robert E. Carlile of Springfield, Oregon. She is survived by her sons Kurt (Theresa) Reuter of Puyallup, Washington and Kris Reuter of Kent, Washington, stepson Mark Carlile of Springfield, Oregon, stepdaughter Vicki (Bob) Peterson, of Marcola, Oregon, and her grandchildren, Zachary (Sidney) Reuter of Vancouver, Washington, Tyler (Kelly) Reuter of Portland, Oregon, Olivia, Camille, and Jessica Carlile of Eugene Oregon, Elena Peterson of Marcola, Oregon, six great grandchildren, Phoebe, Elijah, Ivy, Bennett, Cole and Caspian, sister Theresa Trzepacz, of Loxahatchee, Florida, brother Bryan Evans Jr., of Vincennes, Indiana, brother in law Ken Carlile of Moses Lake, Washington and too many wonderful friends to list. She was truly blessed to have all of these people in her life.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026 in Springfield, Oregon.