Donna Salem

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Dorothy and Everett McLernon, her brother, Daniel McLernon, and her adoring husband of 54 years, James Morris Salem.

Survivors include her sons, Timothy Salem (Lisa) of Trussville, AL, and Jon Salem of Brandon, MS; her daughters, Betsy Nolan (Kenneth) of Cumming, GA and Jennifer Santoyo (Richard) of Garland, Texas; her beloved pet, Jack, a goldendoodle; her therapy dog, Archie Andrews, a goldendoodle; grandchildren, Noah, Brent, and Benjamin Salem; Ryan, Berkley, and Carson Nolan; and Roman, Paul, and Sophia Santoyo; and siblings John McLernon of Elkhorn, WI and Patricia Stone of Ocala, FL.

Donna Carol McLernon was born in Delavan, Wisconsin on February 6, 1938. She excelled in music and cheerleading at Delavan High, married junior high sweetheart James Salem in 1958, and supported his fast-track education at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, Kent State, and Louisiana State University by working at banks, diners, and retail shops, all while starting a young family.

Throughout her husband’s 43-year career as a University of Alabama professor of English and American Studies, Donna’s home was Tuscaloosa, where she remained during his retirement and following his passing in 2012. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2020, she transitioned to a memory care facility in Brandon, MS in 2021, where she flourished in her remaining years, surrounded by family, friends, pets, and a bounty of compassionate caregivers.

Donna’s passions were raising and caring for pets, gardening, cooking, reading, and vacations to the beach. She possessed a feisty personality and was a ferocious inner circle protector, quick to declare anyone who mistreated her family a “fraud” or “creep.”

The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the management, staff, and care partners of Castlewoods Place Memory Care. Donna was a thriving resident there from March 1, 2021 until her death. She led flower arranging classes, took great delight in special outings to area restaurants and holiday events, and was affectionately regarded as the facility’s “Elizabeth Taylor” in cheeky acknowledgement to her penchant for clothing festooned with sequins, cashmere blankets, and luxury skincare products from Christian Dior and La Mer.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the James M. Salem Memorial Scholarship at the University of Alabama. Gifts can be arranged online (www.give.ua.edu) or sent by check in the name of the scholarship to UA Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.