Donna Cody

Donna Radene Heiserman was born in Russell Kansas in December of 1932. It was the time at the end of the Great Depression and at the beginning of a condition called the “dust bowl” for midwestern farmers.

Her father, Raymond D. Heiserman, had two brothers and was the son of German immigrants who farmed dry land wheat. Ray was fascinated by the new American automobile and had left the farm to go to Michigan in the early 1920’s to study at General Motor’s official school. He became an accomplished mechanic and worked for the Ochs family at their auto dealership in Russell. Later, he worked for the Chevrolet dealer in Wichita Kansas.

In the late 1920’s he met the woman who would be Donna’s mother, Thyrzabelle “Belle” Jane Daniel. Belle was born in a sod house in Ulysses Kansas. She was of English decent. Belle was from a large family with nine children and her father raised cattle and did some farming as well.

Ray had a nickname for Belle; he called her Cookie or Kookie. Family members spelled it different ways, but that is what everyone called her.

While living in Russell Kansas they had two children, Donna and Larry. Donna and Larry were very close and Donna loved him dearly and held him in highest respect.

Donna grew up in Wichita Kansas. She graduated from high school in 1950, and attended college for two years. She worked for a gas service company. A customer, Bill Cody (William Robert Cody) came in one day and saw her in the office. His family had a small gravel business. He called back to ask for a date. She said yes.

She hatched a plan with brother Larry that when this Bill Cody guy came to the door to pick her up she would watch from the window. If she didn’t like the look of him she would signal and Larry was to say he had never heard of her and send Bill away. The plan didn’t work because Bill had planned a double date. Both young men came to the door so she didn’t know which one was Bill. Apparently they both looked ok.

They married a couple of years later. Bill and Donna were truly partners, friends, loved each other with a deep and rich passion. After years of marriage they were always excited to see each other and be together. They would still sit up all night talking as though they were just getting to know one another. They rode horses, hiked, went to church, played cards (ten point pitch) and did everything together.

They had one daughter, Erin Jane Cody. They adopted a son; Gene Cameron Cody.

Donna was a deeply spiritual Christian woman. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God was truly God, the maker of heaven and earth and that she was made in his image. She knew Jesus as her redeemer and her rock. Prayer and study of God’s Word were a priority in her daily life.

It was the love of God that was her life example to others. She refined her thoughts about the journey we share with the rest of humanity with a few little sayings of her own.

”It never hurts to be gracious.” And she lived by this, always giving others a glimpse of grace and loving kindness that God freely gives each of us.

When you wanted to point out the obvious character defect of a rude or ignorant person, she would respond with, “We walk in all the light we have.”

Humility and compassion were other facets of her spiritual walk. She respected other people’s beliefs even if they were different than her own. “We must seek out our common ground and not focus on what separates us.”

Donna had an unusual and wonderful skill set as most people do. She could:

• Design and sew clothing, with or without a pattern

• Play the piano well

• Sing alto and make up beautiful harmony

• Play the ukulele

• Cook delicious meals for family

• Bake pies professionally

• Ride a horse

• Field dress and cut up an elk or cow

• Fish and prepare her catch

• Milk a cow and make butter and cheese from raw milk products

• Can jelly, fruits, and vegetables

• Type by touch

• Rock and sing a baby to sleep

• Stay calm in the face of accidents or emergencies

• Make soap

• Dowse for water

• Was an excellent driver of cars and farm tractors

• Write freelance articles for magazines and newspapers and she even wrote a couple of book manuscripts

• Tell a story. She had wonderful stories to tell of her life experiences and the people she had met along the way.

She readily and without reservation expressed her love for those in her life and above all else, she was unfailingly kind.

Donna enjoyed being outdoors and loved the mountains. She and Bill would climb a rugged mountain or think nothing of walking 12 miles through the mountains on a summer day. She had no problem camping out and sleeping in a wool blanket on the ground and heating a can of beans in the campfire for dinner. She was there for the adventure.

She loved horses and animals in general. She and son in law David were very close. They would always watch horse racing on Saturday afternoons during the season. Each would place a $2 bet on the Kentucky Derby and we would often have a Derby Day party. One year she baked a Dutch Apple Pie. The race is only about two minutes and everyone was watching the race while coffee brewed to enjoy with the pie. When we came to the kitchen after the race the pie plate was on the floor and was clean and shiny. It seems the chocolate lab, Toby had taken advantage of an empty kitchen and everyone focused on the horse race to enjoy her pie in its entirety! Everyone was disappointed because she made spectacular pies with perfect flaky crusts, but she laughed and made jokes about it for years to come.

Donna was slow to anger, quick to forgive. She stood up for the underdog, the weak and those who needed a champion. She was loyal. She was tough and never complained. She loved road trips, the sweet smell in the air after a rain and fireworks. She enjoyed Christmas lights and coloring Easter eggs. She had a heart of gratitude and service. Donna was generous and somehow she knew there was more than enough of whatever was required. She was beautiful inside and out.

Mexican food was her favorite treat. Her favorite color was blue. Her hair was nearly black and her eyes were somewhere between hazel and brown. She was 5’4” tall and was slender in build. Her favorite Psalm was the 91st. She was an avid reader of novels, books about history, science and spiritual development.

Donna was a person of self-control and moderation. One glass of champagne was enough; she never needed two. She would chew a half a stick of gum because that was all she needed.

She cherished children and they loved to be with her. Donna always looked forward to visits with family. Her grandson Ian was a great joy in her life. She was especially delighted when the summer before she passed away a great grandson was born, Landon Cole Slusher. She often said that Ian and Sarah were wonderful parents and she was so proud of them.

She looked forward to family reunions, especially Estes Park with the Daniel family each Labor Day weekend. Donna cared deeply for her nieces Kristen and Jenny, and also her nephews Jeff and Robert, as well as her cousins.

Donna loved her husband Bill Cody and never fully recovered from his death. She had lost her only son ten months earlier due to injuries sustained in an auto accident.

She had suffered both a heart attack and had a stroke in her late 60’s. She lived with congestive heart failure for nearly twelve years. Her heart was three times the size of a typical human heart. Faith in God and a bit of pure willpower and determination carried her through those years. Finally the left ventricle of the heart failed.

She is greatly missed.

Donna Radene Heiserman Cody

December 19, 1932 – February 19, 2011

Donna Radene Heiserman Cody, age 79, a resident of Colorado Springs since 1997 and previously of Pueblo, Colorado, passed away on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at her home. She was a homemaker. Donna was born on December 19, 1932 in Russell, Kansas to Raymond D. and Thyrzabelle (Daniel) Heiserman. She graduated from high school in Wichita, Kansas. She married William Robert Cody in December of 1952 in Wichita, Kansas. Mr. Cody passed away in May of 1995. Donna loved to read, cook, design clothing, and travel. She was a kind a gracious person. Mrs. Cody is survived by her daughter: Erin Slusher; son–in-law: David Slusher of Colorado Springs; Her grandson: Ian (wife, Sarah Slusher) Slusher of Colorado Springs, a brother Larry Heiserman of Arizona as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. She is survived by a great grandson Landon Slusher. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 19, 2011 at the Imperial Cemetery in Pueblo, Colorado.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.