Donna Jean Fisher was born in Hayes Center, Nebraska at the farm originally homesteaded by her grandparents, Lorin L and Jennie Carmine Blakeley. Donna was the sixth born of eight children to Lee and Ethel Lillian Blakeley-Fisher. Donna was the last surviving of the eight children. With her passing, her family of origin is now together again.

Donna received elementary instruction at Eddy, a country, one-room school, Nebraska. She attended high school at Hayes Center, Nebraska, at a boarding school 12 miles from her home. There were 14 students in her graduating class. She was very proud that when she graduated high school, she returned to Eddy country school as the teacher to all elementary grades. She received emergency teacher certification as there was a shortage of teachers at the end of World War 2. She additionally attended years of college instruction to be officially certified as a teacher.

On January 11, 1948 she married Darrell Eugene Carey from Palisade, Nebraska in McCook, Nebraska. They had four children, Beverly Ann, Larry Lee, Dianne Janette and Carolyn Marie. Most of the child- rearing years found their happy family living in Bolivar, Missouri attending Mt. Gilead Methodist Church. Donna worked at the garment factory in Bolivar for eight years. She learned and trained others to work or sew on every machine in the factory.

With two children (Beverly and Larry) graduated and two (Dianne and Carolyn) still in the home, Donna and Darrell moved to Nevada, Missouri from which Dianne and Carolyn graduated high school. Donna worked at the State Hospital in Nevada for 18 years. Here again, she was a teacher and loved her co-workers as well as the residents of the hospital.

In 1990 Darrell and Donna retired. They moved to Springfield, Missouri where they purchased a house with a cash payment for which they had saved for many, many years. They enjoyed retirement together with travel, camping and visiting friends. They celebrated 50 years of marriage with a reception in January, 1998. That reception became a high point in their life as Darrell was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in October, 1998. He passed unexpectedly after a surgery to relieve the effects of the tumor on October 23, 1998.

Donna beautifully died on Sunday, September 21, 2025 in the retirement home that she and Darrell so enjoyed together surrounded by her beloved children in peace and comfort. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, all her brothers and sisters, husband, Darrell and daughter, Beverly. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Dot Landreth and her husband, Larry, son, Larry, daughter Dianne and her husband, Jim, daughter Carolyn and her husband Charlie. She is missed by 9 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren. The Fisher Family reunion in heaven replaces the Fisher Family reunions she so enjoyed here.

A Graveside Service will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, September 25 at Eastlawn Cemetery, 2244 E. Pythian St. Springfield, MO 65802.