Christopher 'Chris' Donahue

Christopher 'Chris', aka Donny Evil, Donahue, a local young, versatile musician passed away May 12, 2014, at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital after a lingering illness. Chris was born at the same hospital on March 22, 1982 and was the only child born to Lynda (Strickler) Donahue and Lloyd Rodney Donahue. He attended local schools and graduated from Bridger Alternative High School in 2000, contributing to the ceremony with a speech and musical entertainment. Chris participated in Hawks Night Live and placed with a group he helped organize. Music was his whole life, although he did some art and writing. Many of the songs he performed were songs he wrote and he was capable of playing almost any stringed instrument both strummed and bowed, mastering the strummed ones more quickly. He also organized and participated in a jug band. The first attempt at music was in grade school with a wind instrument but the stringed instruments were his love. He played hard rock, regular rock, country, Irish, blue grass, old time and present tunes, doing both vocal and instrumental. Some of the gigs he played he asked his grandfather, Floyd 'Strick' Strickler to stand in with both vocal and guitar and once in a while even included his mother in his group with her vocals, guitar and tambourine. He made several trips out to the Portland area with groups and singly to play his music. His family and friends are fortunate he left a few tapes for remembrance. During his life, dogs and other animals were important to Chris. He worked at the Humane Society for a short time where he tried very hard to make friends with the feral cats. Most of his employment was in some way involved with music. Chris was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother; Helen Donahue, his father; Lloyd 'Rod' Donahue, maternal great-great grandparents; Oliver Biering and Annie May (Koch Biering) Figgins, great grandparents; Dan and Mildred Jenni, great grandparents; Elijah and Maud (Pratt) Strickler, uncle; Audie Rick Strickler, and great Stickler uncles and aunts. Chris was fortunate enough to enjoy a short relationship with May Figgins, Mildred Jenni, Helen Donahue, Ruth Reiser, Audie Strickler, and some of the Strickler uncles. Survivors are his mother and her companion, David Ridgway, maternal grandparents; Floyd and Meta Strickler, and a wealth of uncles, aunts and cousins. Memorials in his name may be made to the charity of your choice. A celebration of his life will be held from 1-4 pm on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at the Bozeman Senior Center. Reminiscence of his music will be played. Family and friends welcome. 'Chris, we hope you are finally pain free, find happiness and peace.” Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com