She was born on September 20, 1959 at Fox Hospital in Oneonta, NY. Her parents were Milton & Vivian (Hoose) Whitmore, of Laurens, NY.
Donna attended Laurens Central School, graduating with the Class of 1977. She was active in color guard, soccer, track, basketball & gymnastics. From 1977 to 1979 she attended Herkimer County Community College, and received an AAS in early childhood education. In 1981 Donna received her BSE in Science from Cortland College, and her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from SUNY Oneonta.
Donna traveled to Virginia and taught at North Accomack Elementary School for 2 years. She then returned to the Laurens area, and was a Special Olympics Coach and a substitute teacher in Laurens, Oneonta, New Berlin, Otego and Morris.
Donna became the Recreation Director and Basketball Coach at Oneonta Job Corp. She worked at the SUCO Children’s Center for 7 years as a toddler & preschool teacher. Donna was also a Head Start teacher at River Street School in Oneonta.
In 2003 Donna opened Tender Loving Care Daycare in her home in Laurens, NY, operating until December 2020, when she closed the Daycare to concentrate on her health.
Donna was a Village Trustee in Laurens and a member of the EMS squad. Donna was a person of great faith and worshiped at the Laurens Presbyterian church where she was at one time a Sunday School Teacher, an elder, and served with joy in many programs in the life of the church.
Donna was predeceased by her parents and her sisters-in-law, Pat Whitmore and Donna Whitmore.
Donna is survived by her brothers, Richard (Dickie) Whitmore of Amelia, Virginia and Ronald (Toad) Whitmore of Laurens; step brother & his wife, Billy & Judy Briscoe of West Oneonta; nieces, Jodi & Don Hendrickson of Livingston Manor, Julie & David Barton and children Allie & Ben, of Huntington, NY and nieces and nephews Michele & Larry Singleton & family of Virginia, Rhonda & Earl McPherson of Hilton Head, SC, Richie & Michelle Whitmore & family of Virginia & Mary Ellen & Jason White of Virginia.
She is also survived by cousins including Denny & Suzi Whitmore of Milford, Bob & Cheryl Whitmore of Newland, NC, Charlie & Penny Whitmore of Davenport.
A special Thank You goes to Peggy Liddle, Donna’s best friend, Wendy Moore and her entire church family, along with the staff of the Cooperstown Center & Helios Care.
Graveside Services will be held on September 29, 2021 at the Mount Vision Cemetery, 3 PM with Lay Pastor Aymar officiating, where Donna will be laid to rest next to her parents. A gathering of family and friends will be held at the Laurens Presbyterian Church following the services.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Donna’s memory to Super Heroes in Ripped Jeans, 697 Winney Hill Rd, Oneonta, NY 13820, the Laurens Fire Department, 34 Main Street, Laurens, NY 13796 or Helios Care, 297 River Street, S Service Rd Suite #1, Oneonta, NY 13820.
To send an online condolence please visit www.bookhoutfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home, Oneonta.
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