Ladonna May Welch

Obituary LaDona May Welch January 15, 1929 - April 13, 2016 Daughter of Andrew and May Richards, LaDona was born and raised in Tacoma. Early on, LaDona exhibited a powerful inner strength that sustained her throughout her life. After graduating from Stadium High School, she studied interior design in San Francisco, where she met her husband George. They were married on April 10, 1948, and moved back to Tacoma shortly thereafter to start a family. LaDona and George loved each other dearly. During their thirty-two years of marriage, they raised four children and built three family homes in the Titlow Beach area, a community her family helped pioneer. George began working at Andrew's Fixture Company, a company founded by LaDona's father, which they built into a successful business and a hallmark of the Tacoma community. LaDona had an immense spirit and will be remembered for her love of family - hosting large family gatherings, holiday meals, and her love of dancing, gardening, sewing, and traveling. She was extremely proud of her children and all of their accomplishments. In her later years, LaDona enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, teaching them to cook, bake (most notably the art of the perfect pie crust), hosting pool parties, and making unforgettable memories. LaDona has gone home now into the presence of God, her parents, her husband George, brother John, longtime companion Ray, and daughter-in-law Jamie. She is survived by her four children, Andrea (Kenson), Desiree, Donae, and Gregg, her seven grandchildren, Barrett, Andrew, Kenani (Darin), Anakalia (Brian), Cameron, Conrad, and Corbin, three great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Beth, and niece Sherie, who will all miss her dearly. Funeral services will be celebrated Friday, April 22, 2016, at 1:00pm in the Chambers Creek Chapel at New Tacoma Cemetery. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.