Donna Frances Shawcroft

Donna Frances Shawcroft July 18, 1957 - March 21, 2009 Donna Shawcroft died at the age of 51 at her home in Grand Junction, Colorado. She was born in Denver, Colorado. She attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, University of Northern Colorado in Greeley from which she received her BA in Special Education and MA in Early Childhood Special Education. Her greatest passion was serving the at risk and developmentally challenged children of Tope Elementary's and Mesa State College's preschool programs. She also took great pride in instructing the students of Mesa State College in the field of early childhood special education. She is survived by her husband, Douglas Shawcroft, her daughter, Laura Lee Gunderson, age 23, of Rock Springs, Wyoming; her son, Coady Shawcroft, age 18; her mother, Trixie Harvey-McGraw of Laramie, Wyoming; her father, Robert "Bob" Coady of Austin, Colorado; her brother, Patrick "Pat" Coady of Austin, Colorado; her sister, Katharine "Katie" Hesseltine of Laramie, Wyoming; her nephew, Devin, age 13; her grandson, Kyler, age two; her granddaughter, Ava, age two months and many close friends. She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert "Mike" Coady, her grandparents, Levi and Ruby Harvey, as well as Mable and Francis Coady. Her utmost joys were her family, friends, grandchildren, gardening, her dogs, her pond and teaching. She was a loving, kind-hearted woman who sparked joy in the hearts of everyone who came into contact with her. She handled everything she did with a sense of pride and optimism. She will be sorely missed. Memorial services will be held at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary in Grand Junction, Colorado on Saturday, March 28th at 10:00 a.m. with a reception at the Art Center following the service. Her burial service will be held at Highland Cemetery in Thornton, Colorado on March 30 at 1:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Mesa Developmental Services Infant and Toddler Program, 950 Grand Ave., Grand Junction, CO 81501.