Donna Lorraine "Gramma Bear" Carter

Happy Trails Gramma-Bear (Donna Carter)

Donna Lorraine Carter was 75 years young and lived in Keremeos, BC. She passed away suddenly surrounded by family, in her home at Cedar Creek Ranch, on January 28th.

Donna was born in Penticton, BC and grew up in Keremeos. As a young girl and teenager Donna spent many summers with her Auntie Dot in Osoyoos, there she made many special memories and had a collection of bikinis. Donna married her high school sweetheart, Bud Carter, on October 18, 1969. She leaves behind 2 children Shawn (Stacey) and Jodi, and 4 grandchildren, Taylor, Cedar (Tyler), Carter and Levi who she cherished. 

Donna worked for the health center in Keremeos, at Harker’s Fruit Stand and later became a substitute teacher at the Keremeos high school, mainly teaching Social Studies and Physical Education. When she wasn’t working her day job or taking care of her family and friends she could be found helping Bud on the ranch. Some of her favorite chores were harrowing, raking hay and changing sprinklers.

Donna’s caring and compassionate nature shone through in her love for animals. Her hobbies were playing baseball, basketball, gardening, crafting, and kicking her friends’butts at card games. Her friends always had a special place in her heart; they were more like family to her.

She enjoyed volunteering her time at Orchard Haven, especially decorating for Christmas with one of her closest friends Cindy. You could say Donna was the Queen of Christmas. Everything she decorated looked perfect; she really had an eye to make the season magical.

Donna, was a loving, dedicated wife to Bud, a caring mother to Shawn and Jodi and the best grandma to her grandchildren. One of her favourite titles was being called Gramma, Gramma-Bear, and Momma-Bear.

Her door was always open to anyone; she welcomed people with a hot coffee, warm meal and beautiful smile, no matter who. Donna had a sense of humor that could even make Eeyore crack a smile. Her loud, joyful laugh lit up any room, and could be recognized from across the grocery store.

The whole ranch’s landscape will not be the same without Gramma Donna. She took pride in her flourishing flower garden at the bottom of the road and keeping everyone’s lawn not an inch too long all season. We will do our best to care for it as well as you did Gramma.

We know you are in heaven now, where you deserve to be, at peace. We will always do our best to make you proud of the people we are so that we too can see you again someday up there. You will always be watching over and protecting us, as our angel. You will be missed, sweet Donna Lorraine Carter. AKA Gramma Bear. Happy Trails, Yeehaw!

We would like to thank the staff at South Similkameen Health Centre, Penticton Regional Hospital and the IFT for all of their support, knowledge, professionalism and kindness. Most importantly, thank you and love to all of our friends and family for their comfort and love, couldn’t do it without you all.