| Graduation Year | Class of 1958 |
| Date of Birth | Nov 05, 1940 |
| Date of Passing | Aug 01, 2024 |
| About | Donald Grant Cline, 83, a 1958 graduate from Eisenhower High School in Yakima, passed away on August 1, 2024 at his home in Olympia, Washington. Many have labeled Don, a true Renaissance man: a knowledgeable deep thinker, an adventuresome explorer, a tenacious problem-solver, and an eclectic creator. Don's life began on a sheep ranch outside of Bozeman, Montana where his love of horses was born. His passion for horseback riding and exploring surroundings expanded as the family moved to Baker, Oregon and Walla Walla, Washington before the family settled in Yakima, Washington. Don referred to these early "horsey" years as the "fun times." During his school years in Yakima, Don's activities expanded to academics, instrumental and choral music, and baseball. One newspaper article that he saved, captured his passion for baseball. "Don Cline, Yakima right fielder, hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning as Yakima pulled from behind and turned the game into a rout (against Ellensburg)." This was a tiny event in a life filled with joyous moments. It was his love of learning that led him to complete three academic degrees: Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Master of Arts in Education, and an Associate Degree in Information Sciences. However, Don's hunger for knowledge did not end at the college gate. He was a voracious reader, diving deeply into subject after subject with an occasional detour into a murder mystery series. When Don completed his bachelor's degree, he served two years in the Peace Corps in Bombay, India. This experience hatched his lifelong thirst to learn about diverse cultures, religions, music traditions, and the arts. Don's travels took him to many countries on four continents. Even in the last months of his life, he and his wife, MaryBeth Deasy Cline, explored Singapore, Malaysia, and Costa Rica. His ability to grasp native tongues coupled with his fluency in Hindi, Russian, Spanish, and German enriched his explorations. Don's work history reflected his need for variety. Having worked with children in India, Don taught elementary students for three years in the Northwest. Next, he decided to repurpose his problem-solving skills and became a general contractor, building and renovating a variety of structures in Brookings, Oregon. For the rest of his life, Don applied his building skills to projects of his and others, turning a throw-away cabin into a lovely cottage, serving as a set carpenter for a theater, and creating garden sanctuaries. Always wanting to learn more, Don then became a Software Engineer, working for General Dynamics and Coastal Environmental Systems, specializing in writing technical manuals. In 2010, inspired by a program in Ashland, Oregon, Don and MaryBeth Cline started a food collection project in Olympia with a few people collecting food in brown paper bags. Today, residents put nonperishable foods in special green bags for pick up on the second Saturday every other month. The Thurston County Food Project neighborhood coordinators collect the filled bags for transfer to the food bank. Over 55,000 pounds of food are donated annually. Their project motto is: You want to help, We Make It Easy. Don Cline was predeceased by his sister, Bonnie Austin and nephew, Kevin Cline. He is survived by his wife, MaryBeth Cline, his siblings, Patti Higgins, and Dick Cline (Anne Cline). In addition, Don is survived his stepchildren, Amy Cresswell (Phil Cresswell) and Andrew Goodwin (Nicki Goodwin), his nieces, Kendra Cline, Tasha McMaster, and Tiffany Austin and his nephews, Chris Higgins and Toby Austin, and his grandchildren, Grace Cresswell, Willis Cresswell, Kaiya Goodwin, Kalissa Goodwin, and Drew Goodwin. We will always carry memories of Don in our hearts. Don Cline's Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, October 20, 2024, at the Lacey Community Center (6729 Pacific Avenue SE, Lacey, Washington). Don requested that any monetary donations be given to The Thurston County Food Project, www.ThurstonCountyFoodProject.org, PO Box 974, Olympia, WA 98507. |
