Donna Lou (Murrell) McElheney of Rippey passed peacefully Oct. 18, 2021, at the Lutheran Homes Kings Garden Campus in Perry, Iowa, surrounded by family. A private family graveside service will be held in the Rippey Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Friends of Rippey, P.O. Box 52, Rippey, IA 50235, the Rippey Public Library, P.O. Box 184, Rippey, IA 50235 or to the charity of your choice and left with the Carris Funeral Home and Cremation Care. Online condolences may be left at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
Donna was born Oct. 15, 1927, in Guide Rock, Nebraska, to Iwer and Maude (Beauchamp) Murrell and raised with her brother, Leroy, and sister, Leota, who all preceded her in death.
After working in California during World War II, Donna returned to Iowa and married Harold “Sonny” McElheney for the next 61 years until he passed in 2006.
Donna liked to garden, listen to music, dance, bowl, play bridge, paint, golf and was a member of Order of Eastern Star in Rippey.
Sonny and Donna enjoyed their many trips including those to Europe, Mexico and Canada. They spent many winters in Texas and Florida.
Together they had four children who survived them, Judy McElheney, Jan Hadley, Jerrie Bailey and Harold “Mac” McElheney; grandchildren, Curt and Cynthia Secrest, Jodi and Toby Monaco, Amanda (Tom) Hildt, Kerrie (Denis) Guem Guem, Cori (Jennifer) Bailey and Megan McElheney. Donna will also be remembered through her seven great-grandchildren.
Special thanks to the staff at Perry Lutheran Homes Kings Garden Campus.
