Donna Laree Ellis

Honeyville, UT ? Donna Laree Ellis, 85, passed away at her home in Honeyville, Sunday, August 5, 2007 from Cancer. She was born in Honeyville, Utah April 23, 1922 to William Samuel and Rose Catherine Vaughn Parry Ellis. At nineteen months, Donna contracted viral encephalitis and became paralyzed, deaf, mute, and blind. Though she eventually recovered, she was brain damaged and paralyzed on the right side of her body.
Her mother dedicated her life to taking care of Donna and teaching her; through her efforts Donna learned to read to the second-grade level and write in cursive. Donna also attended Honeyville Elementary School. Her stepmother, Mary Ward Ellis, helped her regain the use of her paralyzed right arm.
Donna learned to be a good helper on the farm and in the home and was of great help to her aged father. Her aunt, Martha Ellis Hosmer, taught Donna to embroider, which she enjoyed immensely and continued to do throughout her life, receiving awards at the Box Elder County Fair. After 1975, Donna lived with her sister Mary Elizabeth Ellis Anderson and was of great help to her family.
She held several LDS church callings: nursery class tender, Relief Society song book coordinator, and visiting teacher.
The Lord blessed Donna with a beautiful and happy spirit. Friendly and quick to say ?Hello?, Donna served and blessed the lives of many.
She will be missed by her sisters: Lula Anna Ellis Anderson-Griffin, Logan, UT and Mary Elizabeth Ellis Louis Anderson, Honeyville, UT; many nieces and nephews, and many loyal friends. She is preceded in death by her sister, Wilma LaVon Ellis Wilson, brother, Oleen William Ellis, and her parents.
A viewing will be held Friday, August 10, 2007 from 9:00-10:40 a.m. followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. in the Honeyville Chapel, 2620 West 15600 North, Honeyville. Interment services at Honeyville City Cemetery.