Donald Eugene Monnett

Donald Eugene Monnett passed away on Friday, February 20, 2015, after battling cancer.  He was surrounded by his family.  Don was born October 28, 1946 in Bremerton, WA, the youngest son of Lloyd Albert Monnett and Gunda Sofia Morrison Monnett. He graduated from North Thurston High School in 1964, where he was the school photographer of the Rambler Yearbook and Rampage Newspaper.  He attended Clark Community College and managed Monnett Litho in Tacoma before enlisting in the Army in 1966. Don served two tours of duty in Nha Trang during the Vietnam War, as a map processor. After his honorable discharge he was employed by the Alaskan State Housing Authority, United Pacific Insurance as a printer and then taught graphics arts at Clover Park Technical College before opening The Printer, Inc. For 30 years, he served the community by sponsoring youth soccer teams, and allowing North Thurston High School cheerleaders to earn money for new uniforms through his business. He never said no to anyone who asked for his time and talents to help with community fundraising and charitable causes such as St. Peter Hospital Christmas Forest. Don loved travel and made trips to Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, and Hawaii.  His favorite place on Earth was Maui, where he liked to wake up early every morning to float like a cork in the tropical ocean waves.  Don also loved boating, razor clamming, photography and was a hobbyist screen printer.

Don is survived by his brothers Robert (Dolores) Monnett and Terry (Sandi) Monnett, nieces Christine (Brian) Anthony and Jamie (Derrick) Dayton, nephews Jeff Monnett and Matthew Monnett, great niece Marissa Anthony and great nephew Brian Anthony. He also considered all former Printer employees to be family.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff at Garden Courte Memory Care for all of their gentle kindness.

A memorial service will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 5930 Mullen Rd. SE, Lacey, WA on February 27, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to:

The Wounded Warrior Project, www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org, 2223 Alaskan Way, Ste. 220, Seattle, WA, 98121, 206-441-7096,

Maui Ocean Center, www.mauioceancenter.com, 192 Ma’alaea Road, Wailuku, HI 96793, 808-270-7000

The Garden Courte Memory Care Center c/o the Activity Director, 626 Lilly Road NE, Olympia, WA 98506, 360-339-5080