Donna Wessman Donahue passed away Monday on her 81st birthday in Meridian, Idaho from an extended illness. Donna was born in Ogden, UT September 4, 1925 to John Herbert & Ruby Durrant Wessman. She was the youngest of eight children. During her younger years, she attended schools in Ogden, Salt Lake City and Springville, Utah. Donna moved to Mackay, Idaho when she was 15 years old and graduated from Mackay High School in 1943. After graduation she worked for her father in his drug store in Mackay and also worked for Smith Voss Drug Company in Salt Lake City. Donna married the love of her life, Dennie H. (Buddy) Donahue in the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City on July 20, 1946. She worked with Buddy on the Donahue family ranch located on the Big Lost River until they purchased the Lone Cedar Creek ranch in 1957. They worked this ranch and continued to help on the family ranch until 1965. Donna and Buddy had nine children: Dennie, Tom, Ellen, Bobby, Kelly, Peggy, Kevin, Kieran and Tim.
In 1968 Donna and Buddy moved to the Pitch Fork Ranch in King Hill, Idaho near Glenns Ferry. In 1971 they returned to Mackay, where she lived until her death.
Some of their very fondest memories are of the summers the family spent in the cow camps in Copper Basin and King Hill. During these times Donna kept very busy with her children and always found the time to ride and move cattle with the rest of the family. She would somehow find the time and energy to return back to camp to cook one of her fabulous meals on the wood cook stove and then organize her "helpers" on dish detail. One of Donna's greatest pleasures was music. While living in King Hill she taught herself to play the guitar. There were many hours spent at cow camps and at home with family and friends gathered around her while she sang and played her music. Donna especially enjoyed having her children singing with her at home and at church while she played the organ, piano or guitar.
To Donna's family she was "Super-Mom /Grandma"! She supported her family in any and all endeavors that they chose. She was always their biggest fan. Donna dedicated much of her life to St. Barbara's Catholic Church. During the week she could always be found cleaning and preparing the parish for Sunday services. There was never a priest who came to St. Barbara's that did not rely on Donna for her knowledge, insight and enthusiasm for the Lord and His teachings. She was truly the backbone of the church through most of her life. Donna was also an active member of many community organizations including the Idaho Cowbelles, a Sorority in King Hill, Mackay EMTs, Mackay District School Board and many other civic and charitable organizations. Additionally, as a very accomplished horseman Donna committed 25 years as a 4-H leader donating her time to countless numbers of young people she came into contact with. Though Donna was a very busy person tending to the needs of her family and her community, in the summer months her beautiful flower beds and gardens were always a true testament of her love for nature.
Donna was preceded in death by her son, Bobby, a step-granddaughter Delaney Tabbutt, her parents, John and Ruby Wessman, two brothers, Herb Wessman and Frank Wessman and four sisters, Lois Clawson, Frances Price, Wanda Stevenson and Beverly Jensen. She is survived by: her husband Buddy, six sons, Dennie Donahue, Tom Donahue, Kelly (Casey) Donahue, Kevin (Dana) Donahue, Kieran (Jeanie) Donahue, Tim (Anne) Donahue, two daughters, Ellen (Randy) Corgatelli and Peggy (Greg) Hurless. She is also survived by one sister, Helen Martinez, 19 grandchildren, 8 step-grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, September 9th with a family rosary at Saint Barbara's Catholic Church in Mackay, 11:00 a.m. and Funeral Mass at Mackay High School Auditorium at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at the Mt. McCaleb Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Challis Assisted Living Facility, 1050 North Clinic Road, Challis, Idaho 83226.
In 1968 Donna and Buddy moved to the Pitch Fork Ranch in King Hill, Idaho near Glenns Ferry. In 1971 they returned to Mackay, where she lived until her death.
Some of their very fondest memories are of the summers the family spent in the cow camps in Copper Basin and King Hill. During these times Donna kept very busy with her children and always found the time to ride and move cattle with the rest of the family. She would somehow find the time and energy to return back to camp to cook one of her fabulous meals on the wood cook stove and then organize her "helpers" on dish detail. One of Donna's greatest pleasures was music. While living in King Hill she taught herself to play the guitar. There were many hours spent at cow camps and at home with family and friends gathered around her while she sang and played her music. Donna especially enjoyed having her children singing with her at home and at church while she played the organ, piano or guitar.
To Donna's family she was "Super-Mom /Grandma"! She supported her family in any and all endeavors that they chose. She was always their biggest fan. Donna dedicated much of her life to St. Barbara's Catholic Church. During the week she could always be found cleaning and preparing the parish for Sunday services. There was never a priest who came to St. Barbara's that did not rely on Donna for her knowledge, insight and enthusiasm for the Lord and His teachings. She was truly the backbone of the church through most of her life. Donna was also an active member of many community organizations including the Idaho Cowbelles, a Sorority in King Hill, Mackay EMTs, Mackay District School Board and many other civic and charitable organizations. Additionally, as a very accomplished horseman Donna committed 25 years as a 4-H leader donating her time to countless numbers of young people she came into contact with. Though Donna was a very busy person tending to the needs of her family and her community, in the summer months her beautiful flower beds and gardens were always a true testament of her love for nature.
Donna was preceded in death by her son, Bobby, a step-granddaughter Delaney Tabbutt, her parents, John and Ruby Wessman, two brothers, Herb Wessman and Frank Wessman and four sisters, Lois Clawson, Frances Price, Wanda Stevenson and Beverly Jensen. She is survived by: her husband Buddy, six sons, Dennie Donahue, Tom Donahue, Kelly (Casey) Donahue, Kevin (Dana) Donahue, Kieran (Jeanie) Donahue, Tim (Anne) Donahue, two daughters, Ellen (Randy) Corgatelli and Peggy (Greg) Hurless. She is also survived by one sister, Helen Martinez, 19 grandchildren, 8 step-grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, September 9th with a family rosary at Saint Barbara's Catholic Church in Mackay, 11:00 a.m. and Funeral Mass at Mackay High School Auditorium at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at the Mt. McCaleb Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Challis Assisted Living Facility, 1050 North Clinic Road, Challis, Idaho 83226.
Donna Wessman Donahue passed away Monday on her 81st birthday in Meridian, Idaho from an extended illness. Donna was born in Ogden, UT September 4, 1925 to John Herbert & Ruby Durrant Wessman. She was the youngest of eight children. During her younger years, she attended schools in Ogden, Salt Lake City and Springville, Utah. Donna moved to Mackay, Idaho when she was 15 years old and graduated from Mackay High School in 1943. After graduation she worked for her father in his drug store in Mackay and also worked for Smith Voss Drug Company in Salt Lake City. Donna married the love of her life, Dennie H. (Buddy) Donahue in the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City on July 20, 1946. She worked with Buddy on the Donahue family ranch located on the Big Lost River until they purchased the Lone Cedar Creek ranch in 1957. They worked this ranch and continued to help on the family ranch until 1965. Donna and Buddy had nine children: Dennie, Tom, Ellen, Bobby, Kelly, Peggy, Kevin, Kieran and Tim.
In 1968 Donna and Buddy moved to the Pitch Fork Ranch in King Hill, Idaho near Glenns Ferry. In 1971 they returned to Mackay, where she lived until her death.
Some of their very fondest memories are of the summers the family spent in the cow camps in Copper Basin and King Hill. During these times Donna kept very busy with her children and always found the time to ride and move cattle with the rest of the family. She would somehow find the time and energy to return back to camp to cook one of her fabulous meals on the wood cook stove and then organize her "helpers" on dish detail. One of Donna's greatest pleasures was music. While living in King Hill she taught herself to play the guitar. There were many hours spent at cow camps and at home with family and friends gathered around her while she sang and played her music. Donna especially enjoyed having her children singing with her at home and at church while she played the organ, piano or guitar.
To Donna's family she was "Super-Mom /Grandma"! She supported her family in any and all endeavors that they chose. She was always their biggest fan. Donna dedicated much of her life to St. Barbara's Catholic Church. During the week she could always be found cleaning and preparing the parish for Sunday services. There was never a priest who came to St. Barbara's that did not rely on Donna for her knowledge, insight and enthusiasm for the Lord and His teachings. She was truly the backbone of the church through most of her life. Donna was also an active member of many community organizations including the Idaho Cowbelles, a Sorority in King Hill, Mackay EMTs, Mackay District School Board and many other civic and charitable organizations. Additionally, as a very accomplished horseman Donna committed 25 years as a 4-H leader donating her time to countless numbers of young people she came into contact with. Though Donna was a very busy person tending to the needs of her family and her community, in the summer months her beautiful flower beds and gardens were always a true testament of her love for nature.
Donna was preceded in death by her son, Bobby, a step-granddaughter Delaney Tabbutt, her parents, John and Ruby Wessman, two brothers, Herb Wessman and Frank Wessman and four sisters, Lois Clawson, Frances Price, Wanda Stevenson and Beverly Jensen. She is survived by: her husband Buddy, six sons, Dennie Donahue, Tom Donahue, Kelly (Casey) Donahue, Kevin (Dana) Donahue, Kieran (Jeanie) Donahue, Tim (Anne) Donahue, two daughters, Ellen (Randy) Corgatelli and Peggy (Greg) Hurless. She is also survived by one sister, Helen Martinez, 19 grandchildren, 8 step-grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, September 9th with a family rosary at Saint Barbara's Catholic Church in Mackay, 11:00 a.m. and Funeral Mass at Mackay High School Auditorium at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at the Mt. McCaleb Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Challis Assisted Living Facility, 1050 North Clinic Road, Challis, Idaho 83226.
In 1968 Donna and Buddy moved to the Pitch Fork Ranch in King Hill, Idaho near Glenns Ferry. In 1971 they returned to Mackay, where she lived until her death.
Some of their very fondest memories are of the summers the family spent in the cow camps in Copper Basin and King Hill. During these times Donna kept very busy with her children and always found the time to ride and move cattle with the rest of the family. She would somehow find the time and energy to return back to camp to cook one of her fabulous meals on the wood cook stove and then organize her "helpers" on dish detail. One of Donna's greatest pleasures was music. While living in King Hill she taught herself to play the guitar. There were many hours spent at cow camps and at home with family and friends gathered around her while she sang and played her music. Donna especially enjoyed having her children singing with her at home and at church while she played the organ, piano or guitar.
To Donna's family she was "Super-Mom /Grandma"! She supported her family in any and all endeavors that they chose. She was always their biggest fan. Donna dedicated much of her life to St. Barbara's Catholic Church. During the week she could always be found cleaning and preparing the parish for Sunday services. There was never a priest who came to St. Barbara's that did not rely on Donna for her knowledge, insight and enthusiasm for the Lord and His teachings. She was truly the backbone of the church through most of her life. Donna was also an active member of many community organizations including the Idaho Cowbelles, a Sorority in King Hill, Mackay EMTs, Mackay District School Board and many other civic and charitable organizations. Additionally, as a very accomplished horseman Donna committed 25 years as a 4-H leader donating her time to countless numbers of young people she came into contact with. Though Donna was a very busy person tending to the needs of her family and her community, in the summer months her beautiful flower beds and gardens were always a true testament of her love for nature.
Donna was preceded in death by her son, Bobby, a step-granddaughter Delaney Tabbutt, her parents, John and Ruby Wessman, two brothers, Herb Wessman and Frank Wessman and four sisters, Lois Clawson, Frances Price, Wanda Stevenson and Beverly Jensen. She is survived by: her husband Buddy, six sons, Dennie Donahue, Tom Donahue, Kelly (Casey) Donahue, Kevin (Dana) Donahue, Kieran (Jeanie) Donahue, Tim (Anne) Donahue, two daughters, Ellen (Randy) Corgatelli and Peggy (Greg) Hurless. She is also survived by one sister, Helen Martinez, 19 grandchildren, 8 step-grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, September 9th with a family rosary at Saint Barbara's Catholic Church in Mackay, 11:00 a.m. and Funeral Mass at Mackay High School Auditorium at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at the Mt. McCaleb Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Challis Assisted Living Facility, 1050 North Clinic Road, Challis, Idaho 83226.
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