Donnell was born Nov 4, 1934 To Ben & Fannie Mae Ware in Calon Ark. the Ware family moved to Van Port City in Portland, Ore In May of 1944. The Ware family are survivors of the May 30, 1948 Van Port Flood.
After the Devastating flood, the family was uprooted and moved to Guild Lake in N.W. Portland for a short period of time, and later moved to St.Johns in North Portland. Donnell attended Van Port Elementary School, Guilds Lake Elementary in St. John’s , Lincoln High School, and went on to graduate from Roosevelt High School.
Donnell enlisted into the army in 1953, he went to basic training in Fort Ord California. During the Cold War, he served over in South Hampton England, and Germany.
In 1956 Donnell finished his tour of duties and returned home. Donnell was welcome home to his first child, baby girl Betty Louise. In 1957 Donnell married Lillian Marie Moore in to that union 8 children was born. In 1992 Donnell met Leanna D. LaBarre, they married in 1994, they were married for 26 precious years, she was a good loving wife until his passing. Donnell’s children call Leanna the best stepmother ever, and she has earned that title to the fullest.
Donnell worked several jobs...veteran hospital known as OHSU for a short period of time, 10yrs at the Portland US postal service as a 18 wheeler truck driver, transporting mail from Eugene, Salem, and Astoria Or. Victor Crome Plating, Dorsey Auto Detail, National Printing as a check printer, and he spent 21yrs at Days inn as a shuttle driver before retiring in 2010.
Wife Leanna, Daughter’s Valletta, Donna and Son’s Ricci, Jerry, his sister-in-Law Kathy, and niece Fatimah who he always thought as his daughter, took good care of Donnell during his illness.
Donnell was a diehard Dallas Cowboy fan, and loved calling his son Karl and daughter Betty who are also Cowboy fans after the game, win or lose he enjoyed talking about the games. He was a Portland Trailblazer fan, he loved watching wrestling with Daughter’s Donna, Valletta, son’s Lonnell, Kaman, and Ricci. He loved western movies and documentaries on military. Also Donnell was a music Genius, he love listing to Barry White with son Lonnell and Karl and loved the Dells, He loved all type of music, also he was a trumpet player and played for several bands through out the portland area.
He loved listing to his son Jerry crack jokes. He would laugh his hart out, he thought Jerry was good enough to be a Comedian
On Fathers Day 2018 he actually got to go up in a B-17 surrounded by family, thanks to his nephew Nathaniel LaBarre who he also thought of as his son.
Donnell was proceeded in death by his grandparents John and Alice Ware, Archie and Mary Carroll; Father Ben Ware, Mother Fannie Mae Ware; Two Sisters; Betty Tolbert, Bennie Jean Ware; One son; Kaman Lee Ware; One daughter Glenda Lynn Moore-Ware; one Son-In-Law Billy Clay; One Brother -In-Law Clarence Tolbert; Father-In-Law William A. LaBarre . Mother-In-Law Barbra LaBarre; four Aunt’s, six uncle’s.
Donnell leaves to mourn his passing; Brothers Ernest Lee and Billy Ray Ware of Portland, Wife Leanna D. Ware; 5 Daughter’s Mrs. Betty Clay of Portland, Laveta Smith (Kennith)of Dallas Tx, Donna Ware of Corpus Christi Tx, Valletta Ware of Vancouver Wa, Lindy Rose Hall (Miles) of tacoma Wa, One daughter-ln-law Mrs. Genella Ware of Portland; 4 Son’s Lonnell Ware (Leola) , Karl Ware (Charlene) Ricci and Fonceil Ware Sr., Gerald and Catherine Ware all of Portland. 2 Brother-In-Law’s William D. LaBarre of Portland; Devin and Heather LaBarre of Hillsboro Ore; 1 Sister-In-Law Kathy and Waheed Olabode of Goodyear Az.
23 Grandchildren; 51 Great Grandchildren; and 7 Great-Great Grandchildren; And a host of nieces , nephews, and family.
The Ware family would like to thank everyone who may have sent cards flowers or Precious words.
He was very much love in life, and will be very much missed in death.
***PLEASE NOTE, MEMORIAL SERVICE HAS BEEN POSTPONED***
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