Donna Yvonne Starks

On June 13, 2017, Donna Yvonne Starks left this world to be reunited with her Lord, many friends, and family. Donna was beloved by her family and all that met her. Profoundly loving and welcoming, she had the exceptional ability to bring comfort, joy, and happiness to others. While there will be a huge hole in our hearts until we are reunited with her, we celebrate the love and happiness Donna brought to every occasion and every moment in our lives.

Donna was a gift to all of us; it's fitting that God delivered her to this world (in Quinlan, Texas) on Christmas Eve, 1943. Donna's greatest loves were her husband Larry of 54 years; children - Scott, Stephanie, and Stacie; and grandchildren - Alex, Shelby, Skyler, Ashley, and Garrett. She cherished the frequent phone calls, visits, and texts (yes, she was a hip grandmother) from everyone.

Donna was always just a phone call away and happy to spend as much time as you wanted talking about any and everything, no matter the importance. One of Donna's greatest gifts was her ability to connect with people and make them feel welcome. This is what made Donna great at her pursuits in volunteering at hospitals and working at day care facilities to provide love and care to others and children. Always a friend and quick to help anyone in need, Donna taught us all by example what it meant to be truly kind and caring to others.

Donna loved working in her yard and spent countless hours meticulously maintaining her back patio and flowers. Donna also had a great passion for shopping; Black Friday was a truly one of her favorite days! Energetic and athletic, Donna excelled in volleyball and other sports as a youngster, and was voted most beautiful in her school. She had a generation-skipping youthfulness that fooled new acquaintances into believing she was much younger. She was often mistaken as a sibling of her children and the mother of her grandchildren.

Donna is described by her family as nurturing, loving, fun, soothing, honest, helpful, authentic, adventurous, optimistic, and forgiving. Donna is survived by her husband: Larry Starks; her children: Larry "Scott" Starks, Stephanie Maeder and Stacie Starks-Stohner; her grandchildren: Shelby Starks, Garrett Starks, Alex Maeder, Ashley Maeder, and Skyler Stohner; her sisters: Meriam Calabria, Shirley Stevens, Karolyn Caldwell, Lynn Cotton and Vickie Pittman; and numerous nieces and nephews. Donna was preceded in death by her father, Richard Victor Stevens, her mother, Frances Elizabeth Holbert and sister, Elaine Cooper. Remember Donna but do not weep for her; she is happy and at peace.

Memorial Services in San Antonio will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 3:00 in the Chapel of Porter Loring Mortuary North.

Dallas service is still pending for late July or early August.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of your choice.