Bernadine Donaldson

Bernadine "Bee" Donaldson - Passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 21, 2009 after a brief illness. She was 96 years old. She had recently moved to Petaluma, CA from Sun Lakes, Arizona. At 94 years, she could no longer physically live alone. With regrets, she eventually decided to leave Sun Lakes, and moved to Petaluma, CA in March, 2009 to be close to her only remaining family members. She is survived by her loving sister Midge Mattos and brother-in-law Jack Mattos, and her two nieces, Diane Regan-Tucker and Sally Archbold, all Petaluma residents. Her nephew, John Mattos, Jr. lives in Colorado. Bee was predeceased in 1978 by her brother, Edward Cupit of Carson City, NV. She is also survived by several cousins, grand nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. The family is holding private services in Petaluma. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Payran St., Petaluma 94952, or to a favorite charity. Family assisted by PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY, Petaluma, CA. The middle child of three siblings, Bee was born and raised in Tonopah, Nevada. She moved to Reno in 1928, where she worked for the Reno Police Dept. She left Reno for Las Vegas in 1944 when she married her sweetheart, Pete Reid. Together they owned and operated the Strip Liquor Store on the Las Vegas strip, and lived a lively, social, and active life there until they retired to Bullhead City in 1978. Pete died in 1980, and Bee soon left Bullhead for Sun Lakes, Arizona.