Donna Baslee Obituary

Donna Jean Baslee, 76, of Placerville, CA died at Marshall Hospital in Placerville on July 8, 2025, of complications from Alzheimer's Disease. Donna was born on February 8, 1949 in Oakland, CA, youngest child of Jack and Evelyn Koepfinger, who predeceased her. Her older sister was Ellen.

She lived her childhood in the family home on Kingsland Avenue in Oakland, where she learned to play the piano and her mother taught her sewing skills. After graduating from Fremont High School in Oakland in 1966, Donna attended California State University, Hayward, where she majored in business and became a pretty fair tennis player. In 1973 she started as a utility clerk with PG&E in San Francisco, and was with the company for the next 35 years, completing her full-time employment with the utility in Napa. After retirement she was called back and did temporary work for the company for 10 more years. While in Napa she was commended by PG&E a number of times, including once for saving a customer's life on a routine phone call when she recognized signs of a medical emergency and summoned paramedics.

In 1975, through a mutual friend, Donna met Raymond Baslee, and they married on March 27, 1976. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2026. Through PG&E transfers and Ray's work in banking, the couple lived in Oakland, Suisun, Vallejo, and in Napa (from 1984 to 2008). They built their retirement home in Placerville, and had lived there since. Donna was an accomplished seamstress, quilter, and crafter with a large room in their retirement home dedicated to her creations. She also collected hundreds of "trunks up" (for luck) elephant figures, displayed throughout her home.

She is survived by her loving husband, Raymond, her devoted daughters Jennifer, Kristen (Michael) and grandson, August.

Services will be private. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer's Association or the charity of your choice. Donna Jean Baslee