Obituary of Donna D. Chandler

Donna Dee (Mills) Chandler was born January 17, 1937, in Mankato, Kansas to Milford and Lola Mills. She passed away peacefully at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital on January 11, 2017 at the age of 79 years, 11 months, and 3 weeks. Donna and her folks moved to Colorado in 1947. Growing up, she attended school in Kansas and Colorado. She loved to dance and sing, and you could often find her singing and harmonizing with her cousins. Donna had lots of aunts and uncles with musical talents, and they taught her to play the piano, which she played by ear. She often talked of her grandparents and all the summers that she spent with them. She was very close to her Grandma and Grandpa Voorhees. This is where she learned how to cook, can food, sew, and milk cows. She talked of the hot summers and how she would take her pillow and blanket and find which window or door the wind was blowing in and that was where she would sleep. Donna was an only child, so she greatly enjoyed time spent playing with her cousins. She had a love for gardening and canning vegetables. And she didn’t keep her canning tips to herself; she passed the knowledge along to her oldest son and daughter-in-law. Donna was united in marriage to Floyd E. Chandler on June 5, 1954, at the First Christian Church in Burlington, Colorado. To this union, the following were born: three children: Douglas Eugene (Betty) Chandler, Danny Ray Chandler, and Darla Mae (Mike) Griebel; and three grandchildren: Gentry (Jennifer) Griebel of Kimball, Nebraska, Jerrod Griebel of Greeley, and Jaclyn (Tead) Seat of Burlington. Donna worked for 14 years at the Grace Manor Nursing home. She was one of the first employees as her mother-in-law (Bertha Chandler) was one of the first residents. She also worked at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital for 20 years. In 2004, Donna became ill with back pain. She then decided to dedicate her life to the Lord and was baptized while in the hospital on September 26, 2004. Donna’s greatest joy was her five great-grandchildren: Tealyn Dae, Jaelyn Mae, and Riggin Shae Seat, and Temperance Marie and Treyson James Griebel. When Donna retired due to her health, she liked to spend time visiting with her grandkids and playing with her great-grandkids. She enjoyed crocheting and making doll blankets for the four little great-granddaughters and finding fun toys for her great-grandson. Another strong passion she had was playing the piano. In the summer, she would open up the doors and play for hours. While she played, the neighbors would also come out and sit on their porches and listen. She liked to play for the residents at Grace Manor as well. She also enjoyed watching old movies and often talked about seeing the movies at the theater when she was a little girl. Those left to cherish her memories are her two children: Douglas Eugene (Betty) Chandler and Darla Mae (Mike) Griebel; and three grandchildren: Gentry (Jennifer) Griebel of Kimball, Nebraska, Jerrod Griebel of Greeley, and Jaclyn (Tead) Seat of Burlington. Also her five great-grandchildren: Tealyn Dae, Jaelyn Mae, and Riggin Shae Seat, and Temperance Marie and Treyson James Griebel. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Donna was preceded in death by her husband Floyd in 1978, her son Danny in 1994, and her parents.