Carol Kay Collingwood Donoho, 82, of Payette, Idaho, passed away peacefully at home on May 7, 2026. Born on November 25, 1943, in Payette, Carol was a lifelong resident of the community she loved — a place forever shaped by her warmth, generosity, and enormous heart.
Carol was born to Morris Collingwood and Thelma McCrea and grew up deeply rooted in the Payette community she would call home for all of her 82 years. A true Payette original, she held the distinction of being the first car hop at the local A&W — a fitting beginning for a woman who would spend her life serving others with kindness and a smile.
Career & Service
Carol devoted 25 years of service to the Payette County Assessor’s Office, where she became a familiar and beloved presence in the community. One of her greatest joys was helping elderly residents qualify for the circuit breaker program. It was work perfectly suited to her caring nature, because looking after others simply came naturally to Carol.
Family & Life
Carol is survived by her husband and the love of her life, Jerry Lee Donoho; her children Douglas Lee Donoho Sr. (Dori), Cindi Kay Donoho Ruiz (Ted McGourty), Troy Donoho (Starla), and Tiffany Ann Donoho; 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and her siblings Mike McCrea, Karen Collingwood, and Dan Collingwood.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Terri Lynn Donoho; and her siblings Richard Collingwood, Ronald Collingwood, and Connie Ireland.
A Life Filled with Love
Carol had a gift for making everyone feel seen, cherished, and loved. She found happiness in life’s simple treasures — the sound of the Oregon Coast, crocheting baby blankets for her grandchildren, and tending the yard of her beloved home.
Carol and Jerry shared a love for hot rods and enjoyed participating in rod runs together in their treasured 1934 Ford pickup. Christmas was one of Carol’s favorite times of year. She loved gathering the girls into the Suburban for marathon shopping trips filled with laughter, togetherness, and holiday spirit.
Her kitchen especially came alive during the holidays with the Christmas cookies she became famous for — a tradition as comforting and dependable as Carol herself.
She also had a signature style all her own, affectionately known as “Donoho Red,” a color as warm, vibrant, and unforgettable as the woman who wore it.
Carol took fierce pride in her family, and those who knew her understood that loving people wasn’t simply something she did — it was who she was.
She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
Funeral Services
A funeral service will be held Friday, May 15, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, 112 N. 9th Street, Payette, Idaho.
Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Payette.
The family invites friends and loved ones to join them for a luncheon at 2:00 p.m. at Valley Christian Church, 1325 NW 1 1/2 Avenue, Fruitland, Idaho, where family and friends may gather, share a meal, and celebrate a life beautifully lived.
In honor of Carol and her beloved signature color, the family kindly requests that guests wear red.
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