Saying goodbye to Grandma Donna

Grandma Donna passed away in September.  I will miss catching up with her.  She was diagnosed with cancer during the summer and passed away shortly after her 3rd chemo treatment had been unsuccessful.  Grandma was always quick witted and made my most-favorite sloppy joes for me when I painted for her. 

Below is her obituary from the Hays Daily News. 

Donna Elaine (Stice) Stewart Stanton died September 13, 2015 at her home in Hays, Kansas. She was born on April 4, 1933 to Loyd and Mary (Veverka) Stice. She was the youngest child. She had two brothers, Gerald Stice and Harold “Shorty” Stice, and a sister, Gayle Stice Wasinger. She was born and raised on the family farm, 11 miles northwest of Stockton, Kansas. She went to all eight grades at Bethel, a country school which was located just ½ mile north of the family farm. She often walked, rode her horse or if it was cold her Dad would take her to school.

In 1947, she graduated from the eighth grade at Bethel and the family moved into Stockton where she attended Stockton High School. In high school she was employed by William’s Jewelry Store, she was a sales clerk and worked there during the summer, after school and on week-ends. She enjoyed high school and some of her best friends across the years have been her former classmates. In the fall, after graduation in 1951 she moved to Kansas City, Missouri and attended a Jewelry School. After completing her schooling, she moved back to Stockton and worked for William’s Jewelry as a full-time sales clerk and watch technician.

On October 26, 1952 she married a classmate, Alan Stewart. She continued to work at the jewelry store and Al was employed by the City of Stockton. In September of 1953, Al enlisted in the US Army. After he completed basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, they moved to Des Plaines, Illinois when he was assigned to the Great Lakes Radar Unit. She worked for the “Little Fuse” factory in Des Plaines while he was in the Army. After his discharge in September of 1955, they moved back to Stockton where Al worked for Lane Wells and she returned to work at the William’s Jewelry Store.
While they lived in Stockton, their oldest son, Douglas Alan was born in September of 1956. In early 1957, Al was transferred to Russell, Kansas with Lane Wells. During their time in Russell, their second son Ryan Loyd was born in July of 1957. Once again they moved back to Stockton in the Spring of 1958 when Al became a full-time student at Fort Hays State University and worked as the night police officer for the City of Stockton. In March of 1959, Al became the General Agent for Rooks County Farm Bureau. Their third son, Kelly Charles was born in March of 1960. With 3 sons, she became a full-time mother, wife and homemaker. In 1964, Donna and her sister-in-law Edna Stice, opened Maylaines Dress Shop in Stockton, which they operated for several years.
In 1979, Al and Donna built a home in Hays and they enjoyed living in Hays. She received her Real Estate License and became a Realtor for her brother, Harold with the Stice Agency. It was a wonderful opportunity for her to work for and with her brother “Shorty” in the real estate business in Hays. They had a good time together.
Her husband Alan, died in 1983 after a long struggle with Multiple Scleroses.
In July of 1986, she moved to Wichita, Kansas and became the wife of a United Methodist Pastor. She married Delbert “Dink” Stanton who was an associate minister at First United Methodist Church in Wichita.
For 23 years, she served as a full-time pastor’s wife in several churches in Kansas. They lived in Wichita, Medicine Lodge, Atwood, WaKeeney, and in Hays. In 2008 Delbert retired from full-time ministry from the First United Methodist Church in Hays after serving the congregation for eight years as the Senior Pastor. During her time in ministry, she gave countless children’s sermons, taught Jr. and Sr. High Sunday School and served as chairperson of the Evangelism Committee. She truly enjoyed the opportunity to serve in ministry with her husband. She had a great time and valued her role in this very fulfilling and life changing vocation. Also, while living in the different communities she remained active as a Realtor. She retired as an agent from the Dean Ellner Agency in Hays in 2005.
Donna and Delbert enjoyed travelling in their RV. They also enjoyed golf, swimming, and spending several months in Arizona during the winter. They traveled to Europe on several occasions as well as New Zealand. They hosted several trips to Israel.

Through email, Facebook, and Skype, she enjoyed staying connected with family and friends. Having the grandchildren come and spend time each summer while they were growing up was always a source of treasured memories for Donna. They still come every 4th of July.
Donna felt fortunate to have been raised in the Stockton community and to have lived the majority of her life in Western Kansas. She was so very grateful for the opportunities she had and the many people who helped her along life’s journey.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband Alan, her parents and her brothers and sister. She is survived by her husband, Delbert. By her three sons, Douglas of Denver, CO, Ryan and wife Kathleen of Elbert, CO, and Kelly and wife Karla of Stockton. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, Robynn Hickert (Dustin), Megan Purinton (Royce), Morgan Musser (Matt), Jessica Pratt (Mark), Jamie Stewart, Seth Stewart, Andrea “Gracie” Stewart, Grant Stewart, and Grayson Stewart; and six great-grandchildren, Chloe Purinton, Isaac Purinton, Amelia Purinton, Caroline Purinton, Stella Hickert, and Mason Hickert.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, September 18, 2015 at the Stockton United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 1:00-8:00 pm on Thursday at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton with family receiving friends from 6:30-8:00 pm. Memorials are suggested to the Stockton United Methodist Church or the Hays Community Assistance Center and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N 1st Street, Stockton, KS 67669. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com

 

 

Grandma and Dink enjoyed taking Chloe and Isaac for ice-cream and hosting them for a few hours to play marbles and swim.  I'm really happy that they got to know each other and enjoy each others company for as long as they did. 

 

 

The final gathering Grandma hosted was only about a month before she passed away.

We are so thankful she had a good day that day and was able to sit outside and enjoy the grandkids and great-grandkids. 

 

Rest in Peace, Grandma. 

You deserve to walk with ease and enjoy being reunited with Grandpa Al. 

He's been waiting for 32 years.