Donna Walley

Donna Walley, 94, of Jonesboro passed away Saturday, May 6, 2017 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Donna will be remembered as a devoted and loving wife, mom and a caring friend. She was born January 5, 1923 to Charles and Mae Meador in Chillicothe, Missouri, the oldest of two children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Walley, her parents, and her younger sister, Charlene V. Boyle of Trenton, Missouri.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Charles Harris of Jonesboro and Anne and Jim Hawley of Sacramento, California. She also leaves two grandchildren, Jennifer Bell and her husband Wallace Bell Sr. of Memphis and John Hawley of Sacramento. In addition, she leaves two great-grandchildren, Wallace Bell Jr. and Caroline Bell of Memphis.

Donna’s childhood was spent in Chillicothe, MO where she made many life-long friends. Notably, as a young child, she and her friends were struck by a Ford Model “T” car and suffered serious injuries, but all survived, foreshadowing her determination and resiliency throughout her life.

She graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1941 and following high school, graduated from Chillicothe Business College, in 1942. After graduation, she went on to work with Post Engineers in Kansas City, Missouri. Her future husband, Jim, graduated as a 2nd lieutenant from Officers Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia on July 4, 1945 and they were married two days later at the First Baptist Church in Chillicothe on July 6, 1945. After their wedding, Donna and Jim immediately left for Camp Pendleton near Oceanside, California where the 6th Marine Division was being formed to invade Japan. When World War II ended abruptly, they went to West Lafayette, Indiana for Jim to finish his electrical engineering degree at Purdue University in 1947. Following Jim’s graduation, he was hired by General Electric and they settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

On October 22, 1947, their eldest daughter, Susan, was born in Fort Wayne. They lived there till 1955, when Jim was transferred to the General Electric plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Their youngest daughter, Anne, was born in 1964 in Jonesboro. In 1977, the family was relocated to Fort Wayne while Jim finished his career with General Electric. Donna was a homemaker and always supported her family’s endeavors. Donna and Jim retired and returned to Jonesboro in 1985. Donna volunteered often, whether at her daughters’ schools or at church, and was a Life Member of the Junior Auxiliary of Jonesboro. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro for over 50 years.

Throughout her life, Donna enjoyed playing in bridge clubs and made many close friendships. Friends remember her fondly for her humor and easy laugh, but she was also a devoted and steadfast friend. Donna was known for her meticulous knitting skills and was often called on by friends to provide impromptu lessons or to help them with an errant “cast on/cast off” knitting procedure. She also cross-stitched prolifically. Later in life, she was a voracious reader, visiting the Jonesboro Public Library often. Although Donna was blessed with a long life, the last five years were particularly difficult due to her recurrence of breast cancer, chronic pain and other physical challenges. She was very brave, accepted her illness with grace, and never complained.

Donna was a devoted and loving wife who was always there to support her husband’s career with General Electric and his volunteer activities. She was a constant in her daughters’ lives—always present and forever supportive. She was beloved, will be greatly missed, and we will always carry her close to our hearts.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 10 in the Chapel at Emerson Funeral Home. The memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m., immediately following the visitation. A private burial service will be held in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.

Lasting memorials can be made to the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, 400 East Street
Jonesboro, AR 72401, 870-207-2500.