Donna Marie Davis

Donna Marie Jean Wood Davis was born to Jack and Mary Wood, February 7, 1957 in Saint Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. She was the middle of her five siblings, Karen, John, Jackie, Tammy, and Lori. She loved her siblings so very much, and would do anything for them, she fought to protect her family, and she was the fierce defender, a trait she carried until the day she passed away. She was an avid softball player and cheerleader, but made sure not to get into any “cliques” as she called it, she wanted to be friends with everyone. Growing up, she tried to always make everyone feel included, that followed her through her entire life. She shopped on Tuesdays, calling it Shoe Shopping with Donna. Her and her girlfriends would drive around drinking beer, and partying a little too hard. That is eventually how she found her husband. She found a way to make friends everywhere she went. Donna spoke of her childhood with fondness, they may not have had much, but they stuck together through it all. She lived by one word, Family. She was very close with her brother John. She bought Tammy her first prom dress. Lori and Donna were best friends, Yahtzee was their game, and she loved being at the lake with her sisters. She stepped in for her mother when things got rough, she watched out for her younger siblings. She was her family’s rock to lean on. She helped Jackie, Lori, and Tammy through divorce, and helped Karen when she came home from England. She saved Kelly life, and told her not to be hateful to her mother.

Donna would go out of her way to take care of others, even when that meant she went without. She made sure every year that if anyone we knew didn’t have a place to go for a holidays, they had a place at our table. Whether the meal was big or small, there was always enough to share. She just loved being around people. When she was married, on the weekends you could find her playing a game of cards at the kitchen table. Donna joked about not having a “maternal instinct”, but she did understand how to care for people, just as long as you didn’t try to get mushy with her. She made room for anyone who needed a place to be, it wasn’t unusual to see someone in the spare bedroom, an extra family in the house, or even a random person on the couch. She especially made sure to take care of all the stray children who were always showing up at her door. She would never turn them away, and it was a requirement to let their parents know they were safe. She loved to give you advice, even when that meant it was a tough love talk. Donna would tell you things you didn’t want to hear, to help you do better, be better, and give you a better future. If you’ve ever sat at her kitchen table to tell her your troubles, you’ve heard her say, “You need to have a come to Jesus meeting.” Then she would look you dead in the eye and say, “so do you need a hug or some shit?” She was the kind of friend/mom that would be there for you, no matter what. Even if it meant staying up all night to console you, or driving across the country if you needed her. She really was just this amazing soul. Her whole life was dedicated to helping, comforting, and bettering the lives around her. She was truly the very meaning of unconditional love, she understood the meaning of respect.

She cared so much for her children. She tried so hard to be a good mom, she made plenty of mistakes, but her children knew, without a doubt, they were loved, whether they were biological children, or the ones she unofficially adopted as her own. She tried to protect them, even when that meant protecting them from themselves. She wasn’t above going out, knocking on doors, and finding one of her kids to dragging them back home. She gave and gave and gave, even when that meant she didn’t have a bed to make sure her kids had beds. She worked up to 3 jobs at a time trying to provide for her kids. There were many times life wasn’t fair, and she struggled really hard. But she refused to let that knock her down. She showed her kids the true meaning of strength, endurance, and hard work. She really knew how to use the lemons life gave her to make lemonade. She always said the sun will come up tomorrow. She always somehow figured out how to have a Christmas, even if that meant she was Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve, with her dear friends.

Her grandkids were the reason she fought to live for so long. They were her reason for living. She put her all into being the best Nanny she could be, and it showed. She was especially close to Basile, he was her very biggest fan. His Nanny could do no wrong in his eyes. She was the ultimate in cuddling, hugs, and kisses for her grandbabies…

She rarely asked for help, she never thought she needed it. But, if she owes you 5 bucks, I’m sorry she’s still never paying that back. She had a love for gambling, specifically penny slots and scratch off tickets. She couldn’t make it anywhere without spilling her coffee down her shirt, she would “borrow” your shoes until they became hers, and if she thought you were going in the house, you had to refill her coffee. Her favorite joke was, she likes her coffee like she likes her men, strong and black. But that wasn’t even true, because she generally had and loved terrible jokes, so please, when you hear a terrible joke, go ahead and laugh for her.

Donna Marie has been preceded by her parents, Jack and Mary Wood, Dani Lynn, and Henry Smith. She is survived by her siblings; Karen (Phil) Spitznagle and family, John (Delia) Wood and family, Jackie Smith and family, Lori (Mark) Smedvig and family, and Tammy Wood and family; her children, Julie Davis, Rejane (Kyle Correll) Davis, and Brian Davis; adopted children, Amanda Ludlum and family, Joshua Brock, Kathryn Shane and family, Dakota Jackson, Allison Tennery and family; grandchildren Basile Davis and Andrew Davis; 8 nieces and 7 nephews and their families; and a slew of beloved friends and colleagues.

If Donna was here today, whether you were her friend for a day, or her friend for life, she would thank you for being part of her life. If she was here, she would tell you not to cry, she wouldn’t want anyone to be sad, but to be happy that you got to share those moments you had together. If she was here, she’d tell you to you need to be having a party. So, let’s have a party!

There will be mass on Saturday September 30, 2017 at 9 am at Our Lady of the Presentation Church, 130 Northwest Murray Road, Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64063.

Please join us at Antioch Acres, 8202 West 74th street, Overland Park, Kansas 66204 on September 30, 2017 at 1:30p.m.

Her favorite colors were yellow and purple, so if you have something yellow or purple to wear, that would be nice. If you are late, we won’t mind… She was always late too! If anyone would like to send cards please send them to Julie Davis, 3955 Warwick Blvd Apt 1, Kansas City, MO 64111

Condolences to the family may be left at www.mcgilleygeorgebelton.com Arrangements under the direction of McGilley & George Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Belton, MO. (816-322-2995)