Jule' Ann Darling was born May 11, 1928 in Phoenix, Oregon.  She was adopted three days later by Charles Vador Darling and his wife Anne Hagner Darling.  She grew up near Portland on a small farm on Old German Town Road.  Her father, who was intelligent, very athletic and ahead of his times, raised her to be competitive in sports and to excel academically.  She went to grade school at Skyline, and to Washington HS, as it was her father's Alma Mater.  While in high school she competed for the Multnomah Athletic Club as a swimmer, for nationally famous Coach Jack Cody.  She had many medals, including a National Championship and a lifetime of storytelling.

She continued on to higher education at Oregon State College now known as Oregon State University, where she majored in PE and Health Education.  While at college she met her future husband, Roderick William Donnelly.  After graduating she taught school for two years at The Dalles, Oregon.  Roderick and Jule' were married on May 29, 1952 and then lived on his family's ranch in Wheeler County Oregon, where their children David, Linda and Cindy were born.

When the sheep industry and ranching were no longer possible, they eventually settled in the Grande Ronde valley where she taught for 28 years, first at Imbler before coming to La Grande Junior High.  Upon retirement, Jule' and Roderick moved back to Wheeler County.  They both loved to travel, and explored all 50 of the United States, parts of Canada, and enjoyed a few adventures overseas together.  She also kept her teaching license and substituted in the area until she was 85 years old.  Entertaining several more generations with her stories of growing up during the depression, sports tales and self-defense for young girls, among other things.  A lifelong lover of sports, she enjoyed attending her grandchildren's sport events and became well known as "Grandma Cheerleader" for the Spray HS Eagles.  Jule' also loved the arts, and would hop in her car and "head down the creek" to Portland to attend the opera, a play, or a musical.

In 2021 she made the decision to move from Richmond to Haven House in Fossil where she passed away peacefully.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband of 57 years, and her loved grandson, Brett Fairchild.  She is survived by her children, David Donnelly and his wife Rosie in Eagle Point Oregon, Cindy Fairchild and her husband Scott of Kitwanga British Columbia and Linda Donnelly of Richmond Oregon. Her grandchildren, Rory Donnelly and wife Meave of Colorado and Luke Donnelly and wife Kierstin of Portland, Brian Fairchild and wife Stefanie of Juneau Alaska with sons Sean and Steve, Brett's wife Meghan with children Adaline and Grady Fairchild of La Grande, Celeste Miller and Ed Littlefield of Seattle, Cy Miller and Maireng Edwards of Spray, with children Ile and Olesel, Wyatt and Marissa Miller of Walla Walla and son Bodhi ,and Asa and Jessianne Miller of Moro and children Leland, Rylan and Rio, and Emma and Jon Asher of Spray and children Jon Nolan and Virginia "Ginny" Asher.

She always said "bring me flowers while I'm alive, don't send them after I'm gone".  In lieu of flowers donations would be gratefully accepted by Spray Volunteer Ambulance Association, who helped wonderfully in times of emergency or Haven House in Fossil where she was lovingly cared for.

Sweeney Payton Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements.  Please leave your condolence messages for the family below.