Donna C. Willard-Jones
Jan 19, 1944 -
Dec 4, 2024
Donna C. Willard-Jones died peacefully on Dec. 4, 2024, exactly 30 years to the hour of her father's death, Donald Arthur Morris. She lived a full, rich life completely on her own terms. Donna was born on Jan. 19, 1944, in Calgary, Alberta, to parents Margaret and Donald Morris. She attended the University of British Columbia and University of Oregon Law School. She remained a loyal duck all of her life.
Donna's early adulthood was spent in Haines, Alaska. There she married Wes Willard. She was a ceremonial Chilkat dancer and considered herself an adopted Chilkat. Wes and Donna later moved to Anchorage, Alaska, and divorced after 12 years of marriage.
Donna, a pilgrim and pioneer, went on to have an accomplished law career in Anchorage, all of Alaska and nationally through her affiliations with the Alaska Bar and the American Bar Associations.
From 1978–1979 she served as the first woman president of a mandatory/unified State Bar in the United States. She had previously served on the Board of Governors for the Alaska Bar Association. Former Executive Director of the Alaska Bar, Deborah O'Regan, stated that Donna always attended the Western States Bar Conferences. She recalled Donna was always knitting while keeping up with everything going on; she was so well versed in parliamentary procedure, O'Regan said "if Donna said how a meeting should be conducted you knew she was right!" For good reason, as in 1990, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for Alaska Rules of Professional Conduct, Bar Rules for the Alaska Bar. She also served on the Board of Governors for the American Bar Association. She was a member of the Academy of Appellate Lawyers in the American Bar. Donna was awarded the Rikli Solo Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. She was on the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
On Oct. 1, 1983, she married Douglas E. Jones, a retired homicide detective with the City of Anchorage. They shared an active and exciting life together. Their favorite spot to spend time together was at their remote cabin at Donkey Slough, reachable only by boat in summer and snowmobile in winter. In a bold move she and Douglas spent an entire year living 100 miles outside of Anchorage in the bush with Donna practicing law. The ABA Journal (2003) wrote of "Barrister in the Backwoods" where "Solar panels on the cabin roof fed power to batteries that ran a laptop, computer, printer, fax and satellite phone." Willard-Jones estimated that she made 10 trips a year for ABA meetings – a daunting schedule even living in civilization. She stated "thank goodness for long train rides and laptop computers." Donna admitted she had a great support staff in Anchorage, she stated "I suppose I do it because it is a challenge and to see if it can be done." She also stated "one of her missions as she moved up in the ABA was to be sure to make the voice of solo and small firm lawyers heard."
Donna Willard-Jones' specialty was appellate law. Judge Niesje Steinkruger remembers a Kenai judge appointed Donna as a Guardian ad Litem for a child in a minor settlement. Steinkruger recalls Donna "rose to the occasion and figured out where the money was going [to] instead of the child. It is a Supreme Court case still seen as the instruction manual for Guardian ad Litem in Minor Settlement, or 'Follow Donna's Example.'"
Donna was totally devoted to the law. As a hearing-impaired person, she worked hard to ensure Alaska Courts provided equipment and technology to serve hearing-impaired people. She gave much of her life in service to others and the cause of justice.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Donald Morris; beloved husband, Douglas E. Jones; former, husband Wes Willard and step-granddaughter, Charlene Matthews. She is survived by brother, Doug Morris and sister-in law Theresa; brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Leslie Morris (Kelly and Mike); stepchildren, Marie Matthews (Christy and Amber); stepson, Dean E. Jones; and stepdaughter, Julie Garcia and husband Eddie (Justin, Vanessa and Josh).
Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Anchorage, 616 W. 10th Avenue, on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at 1 p.m.
