Donnitta

Coming back from Central Oregon we opted to cross at The Dalles instead of our usual spot in Cascade Locks. “More likely to see more memorials,” said the wife.

“Yep.”

It didn’t take long.

Just after one of the many small tunnels on Highway 14 along the Columbia River we immediately spotted Donnitta. She died at 60 in a head-on collision, no fault of her own, but no evidence of drugs or alcohol according to the write up.

Just bad luck, bad timing, or both.

From Dallesport, Oregon, known best in my community perhaps for autocross, Donnitta was a beloved enough for her family to build a beautiful memorial to her death. I’m not sure about the smaller cross to the right of the larger descanso.

Or this.

About fifty feet to the left of Donnitta was this innocuous gray cross. Little more than two sticks of wood, no name, no decoration. Just a small memorial, presumably to Donnitta, although you can never be sure.