Donna Irene Vasquez (Thomas), our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother passed away peacefully at home on November 6, 2023, she was 85. Donna was born on May 12, 1938, in Higginsville, Missouri to Mary Lucille Rodney. She was adopted by John R. “Nick” Thomas when he married her mother in 1942. After the birth of her sister Margaret, the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa where they were joined by her sister Virginia and brother David. The family moved to Fallon in 1950. On October 1, 1955, she married Melvin Vasquez in Fallon where they raised their four children.
Donna had many passions in her life. She was an amazing seamstress from making school clothes for her children to bridesmaid dresses when they married. She learned to knit and crochet from her mother and made a variety of sweaters and blankets for her family. She enjoyed quilting and owned the Calico Barn fabric store in Fallon with her friend Rita Ferguson. Donna loved to bowl and later took up golf which led her to many good times with her friends. When Donna decided to take up scrapbooking, she said she was going to make a book for everyone, and she did.
Donna was truly passionate about genealogy. She worked for hours tracing her Scottish roots and traveled to Scotland to meet her family. One of her greatest joys was discovering her biological father, Harold M Jones Jr. While he died before she could meet him, she was thrilled to be embraced by three half-siblings.
Donna loved to travel and had many adventures with family and friends. She never said no to any adventure or an opportunity to do something fun. She spent many winters in Arizona enjoying her Canadian friends, playing cards and golfing.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Mel Vasquez, sister and best friend Margaret Clifford, sister Virginia Thomas and granddaughter Miya Bentsen.
Donna is survived by her children Deena (Ernie) McKenzie, DeAnn (Jan) Ardrey, Dana “Mitch” (Jan) Vasquez, Barry (Jennifer) Vasquez, brother’s David (Richann) Thomas and Randy Jones, sister’s Judy (Mark) Pilley, and Lori (Raylin) Carter, and her soul sister Phyllis Braden.
Her grandchildren, Amber (Dean) Kellner, Adam McKenzie, Cody (Shannon) Whitaker, Nicole (Jesse Nuttall) Rogne, Ty (Abbi) Whitaker, Dusty (Marjorie) Vasquez, Daina Vasquez, Addisyn and Graesyn Vasquez. She had fifteen great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchildren and was expecting to greet another in March and of course we can’t forget Moka. Step- grandchildren, Christine, Kimberly, Amy, Mathew, Mark, Amanda, Angie, and Anna and their families.
A very special thank you to Debbie, Madison, and Orlanda for giving our Mom such great care.
A Celebration of life will be held in early 2024.
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