Donna Louise Mayes

Donie, as her family called her, was born in Waco, Texas on May 12, 1925, to Winfred Olive Horan and Emma Valentine Nichols, the first of seven children. Their home was a busy one and Donie had chores at an early age. She was a capable, responsible girl.

During the Depression, her mother never turned away a hungry traveler and they always had a houseful. She grew up loving people, helping others and the LDS Church.

In 1943, her family moved to California and left Texas behind. She was 17 years old.

Working in a gas station was her first job during World War II. She met Jack Max Mayes on her first day of work and was married March 21, 1943, in San Jose, Calif. Subsequent to marriage, two children were born, Verdonna R. Mayes of Rexburg, and John M. Mayes of Vale, Ore.

Donie was a homemaker, a very spunky outgoing gal and loved people and sales. She worked independently for Stanley Products for several years, was an entrepreneur before her time, trying different enterprises. She worked in the retail sector until her health started to fail. She was a leader, independent and strong.

She held several callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but her favorite was teaching little children, and she taught Primary for 40 years.

She is survived by her children, Verdonna and John Mayes; five grandchildren, Dayna Parkinson, Kenneth Kelley, Evette Victoria, Michael Mayes and Donna Koch; 10 great-grandchildren, Sean Kelley, Amber Kelley, Dylan Kelley, Faith Kelley, Ed Victoria, Caleb Victoria, Anne Johnson, Brooke Parkinson, Brenn Koch, Wyatt Koch and Alyssa Mayes. She is also survived by her siblings, Pearl Peters (Gene) of Campbell, Calif., Betty Yeager (Al) of Morgan Hill, Calif., Lillian Moreno (Ralph) of Chico, Calif., MaryLou Fear (Jack) of Yakima, Wash., Winfrey Horan (Barbara) of Newman, Calif., and Wesley Horan (Diane) of Los Banos, Calif., and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Max Mayes, who died Feb. 17, 1997. Before his passing, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Oakland, California temple. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor of World War II. She is also preceded in death by her parents; brothers-in-law, Ralph Moreno and George V. Mayes; sisters-in-law, Laura Carlson and Helen Knapp.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Services will be held in Morgan Hill, Calif., with interment in the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.flammfh.com.