Donna Mae Walker Richards passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, April 28, 2024. Born on August 16, 1936, in Oakley, Utah, Donna grew up surrounded by family and friends that loved her. At the tender age of 5, her father was killed in the mines of Park City, Utah. A few years later, her mother remarried, and Donna and her sisters happily welcomed a baby brother into their family. Donna loved her siblings and cherished memories of mischief and fun they had growing up in a small town.
After graduating from South Summit High, she married her life-long friend, Arnold L Richards, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on September 10, 1954. After schooling, they moved to Orem, Utah in 1964 where they raised their two daughters and created forever friendships. In 1996, they moved to Mesa, Arizona to be with family. In 2021, she moved to The Summit where she made new friends and touched many lives.
Known affectionately as the “Energizer Bunny” to her family and friends, Donna was full of life, extremely optimistic, and spread sunshine wherever she went. She was a friend to everyone. Donna’s main concern in life was that there were not enough hours in the day to accomplish what she wanted to do!
Throughout her life, Donna embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm. She was a cheerleader in high school, an Oakley rodeo queen, a skillful seamstress, she loved learning new words, she could talk on the telephone for hours and she sang in a trio “The Versatones”. Donna worked many years in the Provo School district, then went back to school in her 50’s to become a massage therapist. Donna was an avid writer of poetry and delighted in planning memorable activities for her grandchildren to do on holidays. Donna enjoyed making her famous toffee each year at Christmas and looked forward to delivering it to her neighbors and friends.
Donna loved being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many callings. Donna also served in the Mesa LDS Temple as an ordinance worker, a volunteer in the office and an organist. The highlight of her week was attending the temple. Her unexpected passing has truly left a hole in many hearts, but her legacy of love, kindness and service will endure.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold, and her parents, Edmund “Ted” and Ima Walker. Donna is survived by two sisters, Geri Craven and Darlene (John) Carpenter and one brother, Allen (Carol) Wilde, two daughters, RaShell (Kurt) Rice and RaLyn (Matt) Heninger, six grandchildren, Kurt (Shirlene) Styers, Shaun (Annsley) Rice, Jami (Brandon) Hall, Chris (Hannah) Heninger, Alexis (Tyler) Camp, Holly (Redden) Clouse and 15 great grandchildren, whom she loved dearly.
Donna will be laid to rest in the San Tan Memorial Gardens. May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her. We love you Mom, Grandma and GG!
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
To know her was to love her. She will be missed all who know her. You can all be very proud to be her family. I love and miss her.
What a blessing to know and love Donna. She was in the Mt. View Stake with us and then we were bless to have her in our Mt Vista Ward! Love her spunk, kindness and her smile as she would greet us!!! Prayers for you all
Donna was an extraordinary person! Anyone who had the privilege of knowing her couldn’t help but love and adore her!
Simply one of gods best! Nothing more need said! I loved her!❤️
Donna we love you dearly. A true and faithful friend forever. We will always feel blessed buy knowing and loving you. I will always remember,her asking how I was. When I replied “wonderful “ she would reply “ good, you deserve it”. She was always a ray of sunshine.
Donna was one of the sweetest people we had the privilege of being associated with. Truly an Elect Lady. She always made you feel like you were the only person in the room!
How I adore Donna! She is truly one of my very favorites. I have never seen anyone as positive as Donna! I’m so sorry I didn’t get to say goodby to her. I will truly miss her. My condolences and love to all of her family.
Reading this obituary I learned about a connection I never learned from talking to my friend, Donna. She was born and lived in Oakley, Utah and so was my father and his family. My mother was from Kamas and they lived in the Johnson farm by the Oakley cemetery. I would have loved talking to Donna about her childhood in Oakley. I never knew we had that connection, but I loved Donna.
Donna welcomed me and Nick into the family. She was truly one of the good people in this world. I was fortunate to spend several hours a week with her for a few years. I treasure those times with her. We not only relaxed each other but we’re also great sounding boards for each other… we solved many world problems. I love you Donna. RIP sweet lady. Give my mom and dad a big hug from me.
Oh how I loved your dear mom! ♥️
What a blessing it was to know Donna. Her energy, optimism, and enthusiasm for life was genuine and we were blessed to have her in our ward. Her light and life will continue to shine for her family and all who knew her. Our prayers are with her family at this time.
Donna is one of a kind! I’m sure grateful to have learned from watching her serve so many in so many ways. I loved her amount of energy, excitement, and love for all that she did! I sure loved her!
She was an amazing lady! Just thinking of her makes me smile at how kind, interested, and fun she was. Even after many years of not seeing her, she still remembered me as her daughter’s friend when we happened to meet again. She made the world a better place!
I still think of the times I stayed at Aunt Donna’s in the summers. Sometimes I wish we didn’t have to grow up. Everyone here will miss her and everyone in Heaven are rejoicing.
Donna was a wonderful woman and was fun to visit with. When she first moved into summit, we were taking her the sacrament and got to know her well. She began telling us about all the other lds folks in the summit and where we could find them. Always full of energy and life! She is missed!!