Donna Lea (East) McRae (1937 - 2017)

Born 25 Jun 1937 in Pomerene, Cochise, Arizona, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Don J McRae — married 15 Jun 1955 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States

Died 9 Nov 2017 at age 80 in Beaverton, Washington, Oregon, United States

Biography

This profile is part of the East Name Study.

Donna was born in 1937. She was the daughter of Wallace East and Frances Scott. She passed away in 2017.

• Fact: Residence (1935) Supervisorial District 3, Cochise, Arizona, United States
• Fact: Residence (1940) Supervisorial District 3, Cochise, Arizona, United States
• Fact: Residence (05 Jan 2005) St. George, Utah
• Fact: Burial (17 November 2017) Enterprise Cemetery, Enterprise, Morgan, Utah, United States

Obituary

Donna Lea East McRae returned to her loving Heavenly Father on Thursday, November 9, 2017 in Beaverton, Oregon. Born at home in Pomerene, Arizona on June 25, 1937 to Wallace Nathaniel and Frances Rachel Scott East, Donna was the youngest of nine children.

Donna grew up and graduated from high school in Pomerene, lettering as an alto clarinetist and volleyball player. Donna married her sweetheart, Don J. McRae, on June 15, 1955 in the Mesa, Arizona LDS temple.

They lived in Arizona and Colorado as Don completed his teaching credentials in math and science. The family then moved to California. In Palo Alto, Donna served in the Primary and Relief Society presidencies in Palo Alto Second Ward and worked in a nursing facility. Shortly after this, she opened her own daycare. In 1966, Don and Donna moved to Hyrum, Utah. Donna worked at Bourns, Smith’s, and Miller’s during their time in Cache Valley—on top of serving as a wonderful mother to seven children.

Following many happy years in Hyrum, Don and Donna sought the warm weather of Hurricane, Utah, where they lived until Don passed away in 2015. Donna then lived with her son Rodney (Deanna) in Beaverton, Oregon, where she enjoyed spending time with just a few of her many grandchildren.

Besides being a hard worker, Donna was a skilled quilter, seamstress and homemaker. She could maintain a home, manage a farm, milk a cow, change spark plugs, butcher turkeys and nurture any houseplant back from the brink of death. She also had a love for animals and was able to nurse many that were sick.

Donna was an avid sports fan. She had a wicked spike in volleyball and hit a softball hard enough to walk the bases for a home run. She and her husband loved watching the BYU Cougars and the JAZZ play.

She loved musicals and rodeos. Donna also enjoyed playing the piano and singing in choirs. She served as the chorister for more than 45 years in 5 different wards.

Donna’s greatest love was her family and family history. There is no doubt she will have many to greet her who she has found through her research. Her favorite part was collecting the pictures and stories. She instilled this love in her children and grandchildren. Donna and Don have 39 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren, with one on the way. Donna was able to celebrate her 80th birthday this summer.

Donna is survived by her children Georgeana (Monte) Cook (Lopez Island, Washington), Joel Don (Brigida) McRae (St. George, Utah), Rodney Nathan (Deanna) McRae (Beaverton, Oregon), LaDawn (Michael) Richey (Ivins, Utah), daughter-in-law, Melissa McRae, (Logan, Utah), and Sabrina (Nathan) Sullivan (Buhl, Idaho); and sisters Ruby (Eldon) Thomas, and Eileen (Ivin) Carling.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband Don J. McRae; daughter Cindy Lea Tanner; son, Royce McRae; granddaughter, Maria McRae; parents Wallace and Frances East; brothers Franklin, Acel and Harold East; and sisters Elnora, Jennabell (“Jenny”) and Elda.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, November 17, 2017 at 11:00 am in the Ivins 9th Ward Chapel, 260 E. 1060 S., Ivins, UT. There will be a viewing Friday one hour prior to services. Interment will be in Enterprise, Utah.

Contributor: LaDawn McRae Richey

Sources

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTT-1X27 : 7 August 2020), Donna Lea East McRae, ; Burial, Enterprise, Washington, Utah, United States of America, Enterprise City Cemetery; citing record ID 187294739, Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187294739/donna-lea-mcrae

• Donna Lea East at FamilySearch "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 16 April 2022, 19:00), entry for Donna Lea East (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LNTF-VVL ); contributed by various users.