03/16/2026
Donna Rowe Brown of the Saunook Community passed away in the early morning of March 10, 2026, as the sun rose over the beautiful North Carolina mountains surrounding her home.
Donna was born January 5, 1963, in Manchester, Tennessee, to Howell and Peggy Rowe. She was raised in Estill Springs, Tennessee, and attended the United Methodist Church. Donna earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She was a dedicated Haywood County Health Inspector for 32 years, where she was respected for her integrity, professionalism, and care for her community. Above all, Donna was known for her deep kindness, generous heart, adventurous spirit, and love for her family and friends.
She shared a remarkable 40-year marriage with her husband, Derric. Together they built a life rich in love, laughter, and exploration. Their travels carried them across the globe from whitewater rafting on big rivers in Africa, Patagonia, and the Grand Canyon, to adventures in the US, including Alaska and Hawaii. They explored Canada, Iceland, Peru, and Europe and treasured annual ski trips to Colorado and Utah. Donna was an excellent skier and made sure she was always by Derric’s side on the slopes, even when he headed down a double black diamond.
Donna found endless joy in the outdoors. She loved hiking the mountains of Western North Carolina and across the country, discovering the quiet beauty of the mountains, forests, and desert canyons. She enjoyed sharing her knowledge of nature with others. Donna had a remarkable gift for growing flowers, especially dahlias, and delighted in sharing them for weddings, celebrations, or simply to brighten someone’s day.
Donna was known for her love of cooking, baking, and canning. She and her mother spent countless hours together in the kitchen, where her mother passed down the joy and skills of preparing, preserving, and serving food. Donna’s kitchen was always a place of warmth and creativity (and cleanliness), filled with jars of pickles and green beans, homemade bread, her famous fudge pie, and savory meals prepared with care. She took great pride in her cooking, gladly taking charge of family meals and sharing her love of food with family and friends and baking bread for others.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Howell and Peggy Rowe, and her nephew, Chris Rowe.
She is survived by her loving husband of forty years, Derric Brown; mother-in-law, Jeana Brown; her brothers, Alan Rowe (Beverly) and Doug Rowe (Kathy); her sister-in-law, Cyrena Goodwin (Larry); her brothers-in-law, Kevan Brown (Debbie) and Shawn Brown (Caroline); and her nieces and nephews, Josh Rowe, Megan Brown, Conor Brown, Matthew Rowe, Zachary Rowe, Cydney Goodwin-Hamel, Elizabeth Sanders, and Nolan Goodwin, and twelve great-nieces and nephews.
Donna was deeply devoted to her family. She was the kind of aunt who showed up for birthdays, games, graduations, and every milestone in between. She loved sharing her curiosity about the natural world with the younger generation, taking them hiking, picking fresh fruits and herbs from her yard, and teaching them how to spot brightly colored mushrooms, avoid poison ivy and recognize patterns in nature.
Donna will be remembered as a gentle, generous, and passionate woman who found delight in nature, adventures in the world, and deep happiness in bringing comfort, joy, and beauty to the lives of others. Her thoughtfulness showed itself in countless small acts of love for family and friends, and quiet gestures that made others feel welcome and cared for.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 12:30 to 2:15 prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, plant a tree or flowers in Donna’s memory. Memorials may be made to Sarge’s Animal Rescue, the animal rescue of your choice, or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
