Donna Marie Alexander was the second of four children, born to Esther (Halfhill) and Edgar Burch in Roxbury, Kan., on Oct. 23, 1936.
Her parents had little money but worked hard to provide for the family. They entertained the children with games, outdoor activities, Bible reading, and church. Her dad used to say, “Life is like a good potato salad: when shared with others, it’s a picnic.”
As a child, Donna tap danced on Main Street with a collection can for tips. She always had lots of spending money. She loved to sing and yodel and earned several gold medals for her outstanding talent of classical music in piano. Her first gold medal was earned at age seven.
On Oct. 8, 1953, Donna married Robert Alexander. They were blessed with three children, Robert “Bobbie,” Kim and David. She took an active role in all of her children’s activities.
During her marriage to Kermit Hawley, Donna earned her nursing degree, and took pride in the positive impact she had on many lives throughout her career.
After Donna moved her family to Arizona, she met and married Roger Lunt, with whom she shared a passion for travel. She loved the beauty of the desert and the mountains of Arizona.
Donna was an outstanding cook, who entertained with elaborate dinners at home or picnic lunches for sight-seeing trips, even remembering snacks for the squirrels.
She remained an accomplished pianist and organist throughout life, playing for church, and for weddings and funerals in the community. She was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, and served on the Board of United Methodist Women. Family often gathered around to sing hymns and favorite songs as she played the organ or piano.
Donna was a skilled writer and storyteller; she had even started writing a book. She wrote the story of her daughter’s Leukemia scare at age two; her oldest son’s motocross racing accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury, and a visit from a bear knocking on the front door while she was styling grandson Eric’s hair. She improvised stories to entertain her grandchildren, and to illustrate the lessons for church meetings.
Donna collected owl figurines. She could spend hours in one store, reminiscing over each item she saw. After a day of shopping, she would impulsively take the kids to the go-kart track, or to all-night movie marathons at the drive-in theater. She loved dirt-track car races and many other sports.
Donna Alexander, 81, entered into eternal rest with her Lord and Savior on July 5, 2018 at her home in Globe, Ariz. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include sons Robert Alexander (Chris) of Willcox, Ariz. and David Alexander of Gilbert, Ariz.; daughter Kim Overhamm of Tempe, Ariz.; brother Charles (Gloria) Burch of McPherson, Kan.; sisters Liz (Carl) Anderson of Estes Park, Colo. and Margaret (Elmer) Zimmerman of McPherson, Kan.; grandchildren Eric Heckard, Jessica Esqueda, and Tim Alexander (Crystal); great-grandchildren Dominic, Damian, and Jaiden Esqueda; Emily and Tapanga Alexander.
Memorial service was held on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at St. Pauls’ United Methodist Church in Globe, Ariz.
