Donna was born on December 20, 1961 in Independence, Missouri to George R. Giles and Mabel 0. (Brown) Giles. She graduated from Lawson High school in 1980 and attended SW Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri.
Donna was united in marriage to Steven W. Swope of Lawson on May 15, 1982. To this union 3 sons were born, James, Andrew and Tyler. Donna was a loving wife and mother and also worked outside the home as a health insurance claims adjuster. She worked 8 years for CIGNA and retired in 2016 after 27 years at GEHA. Donna was an active member of the Lawson Baptist Church for many years, where she enjoyed teaching children in Sunday School and in programs on Wednesday nights. She looked forward to creating special themed snacks for VBS each year. Donna enjoyed celebrating birthdays and decorated numerous birthday cakes in special shapes and designs for her own kids and for many of her nieces and nephews.
Donna bowled on a league with friends she worked with at CIGNA and also bowled on a league with her son James. She loved going to baseball and football games when her boys were playing and she was happy to travel to the city to watch Andrew and Tyler play during their teen years. One of the highlights in Donna's life was when they built the house out on the farm east of Lawson, but the thing that Donna cherished the most was having grandchildren that loved her and called her Nana Donna.
Donna was preceded in death by her Maternal Grandparents Clarence and Bertha Brown of Montreal Missouri, her Paternal Grandparents Harland and Wynette Giles of Kansas City, Missouri, her parents George and Mabel Giles, a brother Russell Giles, a granddaughter Riley Kay Swope and a grandson Wade Allen Swope.
Donna is survived by her Husband Steve Swope of the home, her sons James(Vanessa) Swope, grandchildren Sophia and Peyton Swope and Dallen Barnett , Andrew (Tiffany) Swope, grandchildren Collin and Colt Swope, and Tyler (Chandy) Swope all of Lawson. Additional survivors include her Stepmom Hazel Giles of Lawson, 4 Sisters Deborah Holt of Excelsior Springs, Rhonda (Marlin) Morris, Karen Gooding, and Michelle (Dwayne) Wisdom all of Lawson; 2 brothers Kevin (Robin) Giles and Larry (Kristy) Giles of Lawson. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Visitation for Donna will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, July 8th at the Lawson Baptist Church followed by services at 3:30 and burial in the Lawson Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleyantiochchapel.com for the Swope family.
