Donna May Gaskell

Donna May Martin Gaskell, age 106, passed away Friday, May 27, 2022, in Fairlawn, Ohio. She was born in Eaton Township, Eaton County, Michigan, on September 1, 1915, to Ernest Hiram and Gretta Belle (Staley) Martin.

As a child, she attended a rural school, then graduated from Eaton Rapids High School in 1932 and Albion College in 1936. She taught in several one-room schools in the Albion area and later taught first grade in Albion. She received her Masters in Library Science at Western Michigan University and became Albion’s first Elementary Librarian. She later served several years as the Albion High School librarian. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and its women’s organizations, the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel, AAUW, the Albion Historical Society, Entre Nous Club, and Friends of the Albion Public Library. She also participated in the Hospital Service League, the American Red Cross, and the Calhoun County Literacy Council. After retirement, Donna devoted her time to serving in the community, showing kindness to others, traveling, and enjoying her family.

Donna is survived by son-in-law, Rodney Wright of Potomac Falls, VA, daughter, Bonnie Perkins of Copley, OH, and son, Jon Gaskell of Clarkston, MI. She was predeceased by her parents, sister Doris Lyon, daughter Mary Wright, and son-in-law, Steven Perkins. She is also survived by foreign exchange student, Gertraud Schickhofer of Klosterneuberg, Austria, nieces Gail Bowyer and Ardyce Walser, nephew Norman Lyon, 10 grandchildren, and 25 great grandchildren.

Memorials may be given to Albion First United Methodist Church or the Albion District Library.

A memorial service will be held at the Albion First United Methodist Church Wesley Chapel on Friday, June 3, at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte, Michigan

To leave online messages of condolence, please visit www.kevintiddfuneralhome.com