DONNA JOANN WILLIAMS OSTERHOUT

Donna Joann Williams Osterhout, "The Quillow Lady," of Wasilla, passed away Jan. 21, 2004.

Mr.s Osterhout was born Jan. 16, 1938, in Heyburn, Idaho. She attended school in Heyburn and Burley, Idaho, completing her senior year of high school of Seymour, Mo., after her marriage to Lyle B. Osterhout, who was in the U.S. Air Force. She accompanied her husband throughout his Air Force career, except for remote assignments to Iceland, Vietnam and many lengthy temporary duty stations.

Besides her husband, she leaves four living children: Lyla D. Schriner of Anchorage, Lori K. Epler of Spokane, Wash., Annette M. Blaine and Vincent R. Osterhout, both of Wasilla. There are 12 grandchildren (one currently in Iraq for a second tour with the U.S. Army and two in the USN) and three great-grandchildren. She also leaves her mother Donna Arbogast of Burley, Idaho, and siblings Marlene Berry of Salt Lake City, Utah, Norman "Budd" Williams of Aiea, Hawaii, Lori Heywood Williams-Crisson of Kansas City, Mo., Clinton Williams of Riverside, Calif., Mary Dawn McClinton of Boise, Idaho, and Ester Arbogast Morris of Burley, Idaho.

Her family said, "Joann was active in the LDS Church, Wasilla First Ward, worked as a SPED bus attendant, and worked with children and young adults who had special needs. She made hand-stitched quilts and quillows, loved her family and was patient beyond comprehension."

Mrs. Osterhout was preceded in death by her father Norman Lester "Bud" Williams, her son Merlin Bert Osterhout, and her stepfather Richard Arbogast.

Cause of death was from a disorder of the autonomic nervous system called "Shy-Drager Syndrome," first identified in 1991.

She was buried in the National Cemetery at Fort Richardson.