Our Mother, Donna Nagel, passed quietly with grace and dignity on January 15, 2019. With Mom’s passing there appears a void in our lives that can never be completely filled.
Donna Jean Allen was born in Skykomish Washington in 1927; it was there she met her soon-to-be husband, Jack Nagel. Mom attended the University of Washington, and was an active member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority. Mom and Dad managed the Osborne & Ulland retail shop at Stevens Pass and started the first ski school and junior race program that ultimately became the Stevens Pass Athletic Club. Stevens Pass offered Mom the opportunity to witness the legends of skiing; Stein Erickson, Otto Lang, Emile Allais, Franz Gabel and Warren Miller creating life-long memories.
In 1962 a new ski area, Crystal Mountain, opened at the foot of the Cascades near Enumclaw Washington. Mom’s life was about to change forever. Settling in Enumclaw, and commuting to the mountain, Mom and Dad started the Crystal Mountain Ski and Rental Shop, the Nagel Ski School and CMAC, all part of the mountain’s illustrious history. Mom ran the Ski and Rental Shop until she retired in 1992.
Throughout her life, golf was a passion she pursued with considerable success, including three Ladies Club championships at Meridian Valley CC and three holes-in-one. Post retirement, her winters were spent at Bermuda Dunes CC in California where icy roads and frozen rental boots were memories long forgotten.
Donna will be remembered by friends and family for her strength and courage, her positive attitude, and her effortless style. She will be missed by all who knew her. Donna is survived by her daughters, Cathy and Judy. She did not want a funeral and we are sure she would ask, in her memory, that we reflect on the preciousness of time spent with friends and family.