Donna Smiley

Donna Smiley

Donna was born to Artie and Florence Shebal, June 7, 1930 in Los Angeles, CA. While a baby, her parents, along with older brother, Leroy, moved to Escondido. Her father purchased Twin Palms Dairy. She grew up on the dairy, played with farm animals and helped milk the cows. Donna graduated from Escondido High School.
Donna met the love of her life one Sunday morning at the Four Square Church in Escondido. She introduced herself and asked Dave Smiley to come over for a cup of coffee after the church service. She made a great cup of coffee -- Dave and Donna eloped six weeks later in Yuma, Arizona.
Donna had four children in a span of seven years. Three sons and a daughter. Being a mother was a job she did well. For years she supported her three sons in various sports. She spent hundreds, maybe thousands, of hours driving to and from games, then sitting in the bleachers supporting and cheering for her favorite player. When not involved in Smiley family sports, she taught her daughter to sew, cook and shop. She had complete confidence her children would be happy adjusted adults. She loved them, advised them, always had a hug ready and a shoulder to cry on. Weekends were busy at Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido where she was a Deaconess and participated in multiple church activities.
Dave and Donna moved to Marysville, WA in 1993. She loved to fish and camp at Lake Curlew with good friends from church. Many evenings were spent chatting around the camp fire and playing Chicken Foot. She loved to laugh. Donna enjoyed living in the beautiful Northwest with lots of trees and lots of rain. They attended First Baptist Church in Marysville.
Through her life, there was one clear vision. It was her unwavering faith in God. Donna was diagnosed with liver cancer in 1999. She always seized the opportunity to testify her faith to surgeons, family physicians, nurses, therapists, whomever would listen. She was alive because God was taking care of her! Recently, she was diagnosed with dementia. While suffering with this disease, it gave her a new opportunity to testify her faith to the care center nurses and aids. She lived by her faith and her love of God.
Donna's faith was also reflected in the great love she had for her husband of 56 years. Never did two people show more love and affection. Their selfless devotion to each other continues to be an inspiration to their many family members and friends. She will be greatly missed.
Donna is preceded in death by her brother, Leroy Shebal.
Donna is survived by her husband, Dave; children, David, of Ketchikan, AK, Carol (Jack), of Los Altos, CA, Steven (Antoinette), of Escondido, CA, Dennis (Pam), of Arlington, WA; and sister-in-law, Jane Shebal, of Escondido, CA. She has 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Donna's life is planned for 2 p.m., Saturday, January 22nd at the First Baptist Church in Marysville.