On February 20, 2025, Donna Mae Dunn Smith passed away peacefully, in the company of Jeff and Kathleen, at the age of 97 years. Her philosophy of life, expressed by her, and demonstrated over her entire lifetime, was “People are more important than things.”
She is survived by her sisters, Pat Haun and Peggy McKinley, daughter-in-law Lydia, and by four of her sons and their spouses: Kirk & Lizhen, Jeff & Kathleen, Brad & Irene, Cory & Lisa. She has 19 surviving grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild, as well as numerous other relatives and friends.
She has joined her beloved husband of 79 years, Keith Byard Smith, her parents, William Elmer Dunn and Mary Estella Drage, her brother, Bill (William Elmer Dunn Jr.), her oldest son, Rick, a daughter-in-law, Lois, and a grandson, Dustin, in Heaven. Throughout her life she enjoyed family history work and felt honored to be a descendent of Mormon Pioneers.
Donna was born on September 10, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah at the start of the Great Depression. Her favorite playmates were her cousin Valcene and her brother, Bill. She was actively involved in many activities and participated in plays and musicals while in school. She was very involved in Girl Scouts. She loved sewing, and frequently created clothing for her family, herself and for her dolls. She also learned tap dancing and acrobatics. Her home was very loving and she felt her parents sacrificed during the hard times to ensure she and her siblings always felt happy and secure.
Melba Lavin was a very good friend of Donna’s throughout her life, and she and her family were influential in introducing Donna to membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a blessing that she cherished since her baptism at ten years of age. She particularly loves the doctrine of eternal families and found peace in having obtained temple ordinances binding her family together. Donna was involved in leadership activities throughout her years of school and church. She often served as president in many of her different leadership opportunities. She has felt the “tender mercies” of her savior, Jesus Christ, throughout her life.
Donna met Keith at a dance in May of 1943. He was a friend of her brother’s. They became engaged when she was 17 years old. They were married on October 17, 1945 and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on June 19, 1947, just before Rick was born. Together they made a home for their growing family, even building a house themselves in Salt Lake City. All of the family (except adult son, Rick) moved to Orem, Utah in 1966. By then Donna had 5 sons, ranging in age from one year old to 19 years old.
Throughout Donna’s life she had multiple spiritual experiences, including near death experiences and relief from chronic pain, that confirmed her testimony that our Heavenly Father was watching over her and her family and answering their prayers.
When Keith’s father died in 1973, he and Donna took his mother, Ellen, to live with them for the next 24 years. They also fostered two Native American young men, Peter St. Marks, and Tim Maho. Donna and Keith also hosted several of their grandchildren during their college years, and a young woman from Brazil, named Neide, who was very special to them.
Donna served in many positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over the years, working frequently with young women and the Relief Society. Donna and Keith served a two year mission to the West Indies, another to Scotland, as well as a mission for the Church Educational System. Donna and Keith served as temple workers at the Columbia River Temple after moving to Yakima, Washington to live nearer to their son’s families in 2007.
Besides her leadership talents, Donna was a skilled seamstress and gardener. She was a talented organizer, including putting together multiple family reunions and family trips.
If you asked Donna what she considered to be her greatest accomplishment in life, she would likely reply without hesitation. In her own words, “I raised five sons. And they’re all great sons.”
Donna’s spiritual strengths and testimony have been a great blessing to her family. She taught us that the Lord will and does help us if we ask Him in faith. Her favorite scriptures are D&C 84:88 and 1 Nephi 3:7. She said, “I know that Heavenly Father knows me. He has shown his love to me in many crises in my life. He wants me to become much more than I can visualize.”
She has been an amazing daughter, wife, sister, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother. She truly showed us through her love that “people are more important than things.”
The family would like to extend special thanks to the wonderful and loving staff at Ellen House where Donna made her home in October 2024 shortly before the loss of her husband Keith.
There will be a viewing at 9:00 AM with services at 10:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints chapel at 4307 Englewood Ave., Yakima, Washington, immediately followed by a short graveside service at Terrace Heights Memorial cemetery.
