Donovan Wayne Tolman

On May 16, 2021, Donovan Wayne Tolman passed away in Arcata, California.

Donovan was born April 19, 1944, in White Camp, Oregon, to Marion and Josephine Tolman. He grew up in Crescent City, California, and attended Del Norte High School (1962), College of the Redwoods, Humboldt State University, and Komatsu Training Academy. In his youth, he worked in his father's chain saw shop. He enjoyed his family's passion for racing, woodworking, fishing, and hunting throughout his life.

Donovan also worked as a semi-truck driver, mechanic, chain-saw operator, saw-mill worker, and church custodian. He loved his family and cherished time with them listening to music, watching movies, taking pictures, going to the beach, watching parades, gardening and being in the church choir with his wife.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Donovan enjoyed serving in multiple roles. He looked forward to church activities and many of his fondest memories were those of being a Boy Scout leader, coach, teacher, and ward clerk. He enjoyed working with his wife in the family history center, in McKinleyville, California.

Donovan is survived by his sister, Vivien Tolman Leigh of Crescent City, California, and her daughter Jennifer Costantino. He is also survived by his three children: Jody Patton (Dean) of Murrieta, California, Jason Tolman (Jo-Lynn) of Portland, Oregon, and Tammy Saldaña of Sacramento, California. He dearly loved his six grandchildren: Taylor Patton (Malia), Whitney Patton, Hunter Patton, Izabella Saldaña, Kiara Tolman Smith (Kenzie), and Trevor Tolman, and his two great- grandchildren Lilly and Violet Patton. He also loved his brother-in -law Steve Berg (Debbie). and sister-in-law Lois Stevenson (Richard), his niece Barbara Reed and her son Riley, and niece Laurel Rosenthal (Dave) and their daughter Rachel.

Friends and family enjoyed Donovan's vibrant personality that made everyone laugh. He leaves behind a legacy of service and kindness to everyone he met. During the past month, Donovan greatly missed his wife of 53 years, who passed away on April 1, 2021. We take comfort in knowing Donovan and Alice are together. As we hold our memories of them close to our hearts, we will greatly miss them.

No services will be held.