Celebration of Life for Donny Platt

Welcome

Well, good afternoon. My name is Hutch, I am one of the Pastor /Elders here at Lebanon First baptist. I would like to thank all of you for coming today. I know your presence means a lot to Donny’s family.

Quick note in case you do not know, facilities are located just out these doors. Up the stairs and to the right for the ladies and down the stairs and to the right for the men.

To begin today, the family has prepared a Eulogy for Donny and they have asked me to read it to you.

Reading of Eulogy

The family would like to start by saying thank you to everyone that has showed up today to celebrate the life of Donald Jay Platt. He was a source of strength for all of us and his laugh was infectious and his presence brought light into every room. He taught all of us generosity, kindness and living life to the fullest.

Donny was born January 27th, 1958 in Eugene, Oregon to Stan and Leilani Platt. He was the youngest of three boys. He grew up in Springfield, Oregon . He went to Mt.Vernon Elementary, Briggs Middle school and then to Thurston High School.

After high school Donny started working on cars which we all know, was one of his biggest passions. He joined the Holland Racing Team in 1984, as the crew chief , and his brother Steve was on the pit crew. They both have great memories of their time together.

Donny met Rhonda Kelly in 1984 and they married in 1987. In 1988 they had their first child, a girl they named Chelsey. In 1990, they had their second baby ,a girl they named Kendra Then in 2010, Donny welcomed a third daughter named Ashley.

For a few years Donny worked at Whittier wood products before taking his dream job in 2008 at Hyland Auto Sales as the head mechanic. He really loved his job, but something was missing, and that something was found in January 2014 when he met the love of his life and partner in crime, Elaine. He was finally whole again.

Their life together was full of adventure. Over the last 11 years, Donny also became a great Dad figure to Elaine’s two daughters Jessica and Halie, and friend and father in law to Joshua.

Being blessed with 5 daughters between them, they became grandparents to 6 beautiful grandchildren. Peyton, Abel, Charlotte, Wyatt , Paisley and Bella.

In 2021, Donny and Elaine both retired. They were really enjoying their retirement, taking care of the property and taking trips with the family . Retirement also allowed Donny the time to work on cars. He loved his shop and the property and the life he now had. Besides his love of working on cars, he also loved boating, camping, fishing and kayaking, but mostly he loved spending time with his family and friends .

Although Donny was taken from us far too soon, we should learn that it’s never too late to tell someone how much they mean to you and never take a day for granted. His laugh was contagious . And too all that knew him he would say “What it is”

Donny lived in the moment and really loved life and we all know that’s what he wants us to do today no matter how hard it is to do it without him.

As we say farewell or, until we meet again, we carry his memory in our hearts. We are grateful for the time we had with him and the joy he brought to each of our lives. He may be gone but he will never be forgotten. His legacy of Love, patience and kindness will stay with us always .

Donny is survived by his life partner Elaine, five daughters, Chelsey , Kendra, Ashley, Halie and Jessica, Kendra’s boyfriend Justin , and two son in laws Tim and Joshua, His older brother Steve and his wife Lorri.

His nephews , Travis Lee and his family , Travis Allen and his family and JJ and his family.

His Aunt Violet, his Uncle Jim & Aunt Judi , and cousins, David , Tommy , Kathy and their families. We will all Love and miss him forever

Slideshow

Donny’s family have prepared a slideshow of Donny’s life for us to enjoy. We will go ahead have a look at that now.

Message

Well, I cannot think of another social gathering that tugs at our heartstrings the way that a gathering like this does. There’s something about being left behind that stirs our emotions and brings a profound sense of loneliness to our hearts. In the twinkling of an eye, a loved one passed from life to afterlife, from temporal to eternal; leaving friends, neighbors and family behind. Left behind indeed. The aftermath of this loneliness, tends to bring out the best and the worst our emotions have to offer.

On the one hand, you reminisce about the good times you enjoyed with Donny - the experiences you had, the laughter you shared, the days you thought would never end. On the other hand, you wonder why something like this has happened. Donny is gone and you are left behind - and it hurts.

That brings us to the other side of our emotional balance sheet. It is irrational to think we would not hold some feelings of contempt in our hearts over the passing of a friend or family member. Some of you are searching for answers today. I want you to know that it’s OK to ask questions. It’s natural to wonder why this had to happen. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do some suffer and not others? What is the purpose of a life that is cut short the way Donny’s was?

The questions that race through our minds are vital to our understanding of both life and death, and are likely responses from our human nature. Your mourning, your questions and your tears shouldn’t be suppressed as if they are unreasonable. You have, after all, suffered a loss, and as social beings, we all long for friendship, intimacy and the relationships we share with each other.

I am not here today to answer all the questions that you may have about death or life. I don’t know that anyone could do that. So I am not going to offer you any glib answers. That would be presumptuous, disrespectful and of no lasting value to any of you who mourn Donny’s passing.

So instead of trying to address questions we cannot answer with words that do not come, let’s turn our thoughts to something we can have confidence in. The confidence we build in these absolutes will bring us closer to peace and contentment than any speculation we could summon.

So let me tell you a couple things that the Bible says about death: The first is found in Romans 8:38-39 it says:

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

From this passage of scripture, and from my own personal experience, I can tell you that a relationship with Jesus can weather any storm. If a person trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior, nothing - nothing can separate us from the love of God. This relationship, is not one that is dependent on our strength, our ability, our craftiness, our worthiness, our health or any other attribute we think we can offer. It is based only on ones relationship with Jesus.

I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t know Donny. I wish I had. Everything I’ve heard tells me Donny was one good human being. I also don’t know where Donny stood with Jesus. And, that is not for me to judge because that has to do with the condition of a persons heart and I do not have the ability to see into a persons heart. But I will tell you what I believe. I believe, that if Donny could step up here today and tell you what he now knows, he would confirm the hope we can have in Gods promise here.

The question is, how can those of us who Donny has left behind have this hope. Well, the answer is also found just a couple of pages over in Romans 10:9, it says:

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.”

Pretty clear. There’s no argument. There is no debate. “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Romans 10:13 goes on to say:

“Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Again, this promise and this hope does not depend on your strength, your status, you knowledge or abilities, your craftiness or worthiness. It is an invitation of hope that is available to every person.

So today, as you remember Donny, as you mourn Donny’s passing, don’t lose sight of the hope we have in Jesus. The assurance that this promise offers. God will remain true to His word. We just need to trust Him.

Story time

So now there are a few folks that would like to come share some stories.

Open Mic

The family has asked me to invite anyone else who has something they would like to share about Donny to come. Before we do that, I just want to let everyone know that we will have some time afterward to share a meal together so there will be lots of time to share stories together, but if anyone has a brief word they would like to share we will do a couple, Adam will bring you a mic.

Closing Thought and Prayer

Okay. Well that concludes our service today. Again, on behalf of Donny’s family, thank you for coming and sharing this time with them.

You are all invited to stick around and have a bite to eat and visit with Donny’s family and each other so please, feel free to do that.

Let me pray for us.

Father,

We come before you this afternoon with hearts that are filled with gratitude and love for the life of Donny Platt, whom we honor today. I thank you for the joy, the love, and the light that he brought into the lives of his friends and family and I thank you for the cherished memories that will forever remain in their hearts.

As we close this Celebration of Life, I ask for Your comforting presence to surround each person here. Grant them the strength to face the days ahead with hope and courage, knowing that Donny's spirit lives on in their hearts. May we be inspired by his example to live with kindness, compassion, and a generous heart.

Bless our gathering and fill our hearts with peace as we leave this place. May Your love and grace continue to guide us.

We pray in the strong name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

If you all would just sit tight for a moment and let’s let the family head on back to the reception area first, and then you all are welcome to follow. Thank you.