Donna was a strong and independent woman who bravely battled cancer and late stage Alzheimer's disease.  She loved her family dearly and is preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Carlton Murphy, her only son, Michael Lewis Murphy and her youngest daughter, Sharolyn Renee Schaefer.  She is survived by her oldest daughter Kathleen Karen Murphy and her grandchildren, Thomas Lattenhauer (Rene), Tamara Murphy Alvarez (Louis), Shanna Mae Miller (Robert), Shane Blakemore, Shannon Blakemore and Shaun Blakemore.  She is survived by her great grandchildren, Tyler, Tomi, Halena, Kristia, Phoenix, Kai and Makena.  She is also survived by her only great-great grandson, Ryder.  

Donna was an avid health and fitness enthusiast, long before it was fashionable.  She enjoyed exercising, dancing, roller skating and being active most of her life.  She enjoyed gardening and being outdoors taking care of her plants and trees.  Donna was also very interested in politics and her TV programs of choice were all the political news programs.  Her daily routine included reading the newspaper. She even campaigned for her favorite politicians and worked in various polling stations.  Donna was a very unique and beautiful woman and she loved to dress fashionably, wearing high heels, especially boots and short skirts her entire life, even into her 80's.  She loved her beautiful long blonde hair, and made sure to put on her full make up every day, including red lipstick.  She was her own person and her own stylist, and she was proud of her uniqueness.  Her grandchilden called her Grandma Madonna!  

As beautiful as Donna was on the outside, she was equally as beautiful on the inside. She was very kind and always ready with a smile.  She enjoyed talking with others, although she was intensely private and independent in her own home. She will be remembered by her family as being a kind, strong, unique and loving woman, one that was always positive in spite of any obstacles or hardships she suffered in her life.   

Private services will be held at Riverside National Mortuary where she will be laid to rest with her husband, Lewis Carlton Murphy, a World War II Naval Veteran.