Donna McFarlane Jones

Donna Lee McFarlane Jones entered this world March 9, 1950, in Wolf Point, Montana, the first born to Slim and Barbara McFarlane. When Virginia Kay (Gidget) and Linda Marie (Lindy) joined her, she became the forever leader of "the McFarlane girls." Us three sisters as a single entity.
Most of her schooling was in Poplar, one year in Augusta and graduating from Simms High School in 1968. It was in 1973 when she found the true love of her life. A sweet, handsome southern airman, Wallace Jones who carried her away to his family home in the Rocky Hill area of Knoxville, Tennessee. There the wonders of motherhood came to Mrs. Jones with the birth of their daughters Meghann Eve and Erin Brooke. These babies were her sunshine, her joy and the air she breathed. God's most treasured gift. Their antics growing up were her delight. Meghann's son, Baylor, gave Donna a new shining star. When he was with grandma, he was the center of her universe and king of her world. She was totally enchanted with her little boy. After many years of separation, Donna was able to reunite with her father Slim and his Texas family. She had a warm bond with his wife Deanna, sons Pat, Monte and Jay.
After 53 years in Dixie, Donna may have picked up some southern drawl, but her home was always in the Big Sky Country of Montana. Her childhood was spent having home grown fun, playing dress up, sharing dolls and tea parties with her sisters. Hot dry prairie summers were for running barefoot all over till it got dark, picking chokecherries, dodging rattle snakes and mosquitoes! Cool relief was often found sleeping outside under the stars. Long bitter-cold winters saw Donna the most graceful skater on frozen ponds for hours. She made yarn pompoms with bells to adorn her secondhand skates.
Donna was delicate and fragile of physical stature but her strength lay in bringing her artistic visions to life. Those long slender fingers drew magic from needle and fabric! Her creative genius was boundless. Smocked cross-stitched dress adorned her darlings. Superb design and meticulous hand work bloomed into garments. Also, Donna's penmanship was beautiful and flowing. She excelled at shorthand, office skills and bested her teachers in typing. These skills were put to good use at Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic, a job perfect for her. She very much enjoyed it till health forced her retirement.
Through much of her life, Donna was hampered by illness, especially migraines. Her spirit of generosity and kindness prevailed as much as she was able. She strengthened her faith in various ways of God's word. After her Wallace passed in 2022, Donna increasingly struggled. Erin helped by going to live in a care home, Meghann was devoted beyond measure. She was her mother's rock through dark times. On February 13, 2026, after a severe stroke, Donna Lee's light faded and she left her earthly bonds to follow the Lord. She will be at rest now with Wallace at Rocky Hill Cemetery.
Also waiting for her were her father, Slim McFarlane; mother, Barbara Crause McFarlane; gramma, Eva Crause; granny, Gertrude Saboe McFarlane, and half-brothers, Monte and Jay. Remaining to remember Donna are her daughters, Meghann and Erin; grandson, Baylor Smith, and sisters, Gidget Hendrickson and Lindy Eberl.
A celebration of Donna's life will take place at a later date, to be determined. Arrangements by Cremation Options, Inc. (865)6WE-CARE (693-2273) www.cremationoptionsinc.com.