Donna LaVerne (Stewart) Donley
Oct. 16, 1941 — Feb. 13, 2011
MONTROSE — Donna LaVerne (Stewart) Donley went to be with her Lord and Savior on Feb. 13, 2011; she was 69 years old. At the time of her death, she was a resident of Valley Manor Care Center.
Donna was born on Oct. 16, 1941, to Everett and Luella (Boruff) Stewart in Montrose, Colo. She grew up in the Shavano Valley area in a farming and ranching environment. She enjoyed riding horses with her brother and sister and their childhood friends, the Galloways. She attended Oak Grove Elementary and finished her education at Montrose High School, graduating in 1960. It was there she met the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Fred (Shotty) Donley III. Donna and Shotty were married Sept. 3, 1961, and began life together on the Donley homestead on Spring Creek Mesa west of Montrose, where they spent their entire lives, until the time of Shotty’s death on Aug. 19, 2008.
She began her career as a nurse’s aide at Montrose Memorial Hospital where she also worked as a Respiratory Therapist. From there, she also worked for Re-1J as a school bus driver, Russell Stover’s Candy factory, Valley Manor Care Center, and she ended her working days at the Walmart Super Center.
Donna loved reading books about the history of her beloved Colorado and she enjoyed visiting the places she read about, such as Imogene Pass and the Camp Bird Mine site. She also enjoyed reading about the Ute Indians who had occupied the area namely, Chief Ouray and Chipeta, and she enjoyed taking people to the Ute Indian Museum. It was not unusual for Donna to call up a friend or relative out of the blue and ask if they wanted to go for a drive and you would end up somewhere like Marble, Colo. (exploring the marble quarry), Pioneer Town in Cedaredge, the Indian flint mines, the Indian petroglyphs or maybe Ouray or Silverton to tour the shops or go for a swim. Donna also treasured the time spent at the family cabin up on the Uncompahgre Plateau. She dearly loved all of her friends and relatives and was especially fond of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Donna attended Montrose Christian Church and treasured the people and friends she made there.
Donna is survived by her four children: her son, Jeff Donley of Montrose and her three daughters, Kay Donley of Montrose, Brenna Donley of Colorado Springs and Tessa (Jarek) Bugalski of Montrose. She is also survived by her brother, Ronald (Cece) Stewart of Monument, Colo. and her sister, Alma (Paul) Evans of Cedaredge; her brother-in-law, Melvin (Donna) Donley of Grand Junction; and four sisters-in-law, Jan (Joe) Crane, Beth (Ray) David, Joy Donley, and Laura (Wade) Hogan; and her mother-in-law, Betty Donley of Montrose; her grandchildren, Lacy (Cody) Browning, Levi Pietrick, Nancy Donley, Dreana (Chris) Unruh, Megan Donley, Nathaniel Donley, Katie Donley and Dillon Bugalski; as well as three great-grandchildren, Gwyn and Ella Browning and Jaelyn Pietrick. She is also survived by her paternal aunts, Betty Gregg (104) and Helen Lenardelli (99) of Durango, and maternal aunt, Francis (Jack) Rollaine of Grand Junction, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Donna was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Shotty; and her beloved parents, Everett and Luella Stewart.
A memorial service to celebrate her life and honor her memory will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, at the Montrose Christian Church, 2351 Sunnyside Drive. Cremation has already taken place, and services will conclude at the church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.
