Marianne C. Donovan

Marianne (Anne) Morris Donovan – of Knoxville passed away on December 13, 2021, after a lengthy illness. Anne was a longtime member of All Saints Catholic Church. She was born in Philadelphia, PA and raised in Collingswood, NJ. Anne married Rickard James Donovan in 1957 and settled in Haddonfield, NJ. In 1973, they moved the family to Knoxville. She was the eldest child of the late Mildred Reid Morris and Charles B. Morris. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Rickard J. Donovan; her son, Rickard James (Jim) Donovan, Jr.; and siblings, Regina M. Batchelor and John S. Morris; her brother Charles R. Morris preceded her in death by just 27 minutes.

Anne is survived by her children Terri (Gary) Beam, Tulsa, OK; Cathy (Pat) Hannifin, Fredericksburg, VA; Timothy P. Donovan, Miami, FL; John (Suzette) Donovan, Maryville, TN; Cindy (John) Peters, Austin, TX; Kristine (Colin) Lloyd, Tampa, FL; Kevin (Colleen) Donovan, Moses Lake, WA; Patrick (Maureen) Donovan, Fairfield, CT; Meghan Donovan, Knox- ville, TN; and Timothy R. Donovan, Las Vegas, NV; sisters-in-law Beverly Morris, Lunenburg, MA; Barbara Donovan, Philadelphia, PA; Iracema Morris, Brasilia, Brazil; and 48 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Anne was a devout Roman Catholic who believed passionately in the power of prayer and raised her children in the Church. She endlessly supported all her children’s endeavors in the classroom and on the playing field and stage. She was unassuming and always welcoming to others, especially at mealtimes. Neighboring children blessed Anne’s home with laughter long after her own children had grown. Her motto was “the more, the merrier.” She was a voracious reader who taught her children to love reading as well. Anne was an accomplished seamstress and sewed many a dress or costume for children and grandchildren alike. She was the keeper of family lore and traditions, and her children have fond memories of Christmas mornings, Easter picnics, birthday dinners, and much more. Her grandchildren will always remember summer reunions, night swims in the backyard pool, and ice cream for breakfast. Anne was also a strong advocate for education. A particular point of pride was that all her 11 children earned their undergrad- uate degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In her “retirement,” Anne enjoyed nothing more than spending the day in her sewing room, a cup of hot tea at hand. She also enjoyed genealogy, tracing the Morris and Donovan clans back many, many generations. She was proud of her Irish ancestry and was a true matriarch.

Anne was unfailing in her commitment to family. She was fun-loving and her laugh and smile were infectious. Her sympathetic ear and insight will be greatly missed by both her children and her friends. Her kind and generous spirit will live in our hearts forever.

Services for Marianne will be held privately at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Anthony’s Guild (https://stanthonysguild.org) or Catholic Charities, 3009 Lake Brook Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37909 Online condolences and fond memorial may be extended to the Donovan family at www.sherwoodchapel.com.

Sherwood Chapel & Memorial Gardens

3176 Airport Highway

Alcoa, TN 37701

865-970-2955