Donna Bell Carvey

Donna Bell (Richter) Carvey, 93, Macy, Indiana, passed away on 12:55 a.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Dukes Memorial Hospital, Peru. 

Born on November 9, 1930, in Fulton, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late Ernest Paul and Jennie Andereen (Gundrum) Richter. On January 29, 1950, at the Fulton Baptist Temple, she was married to Lester Dee Carvey, and he preceded her in death on January 13, 2011.

Donna graduated from Fulton High School. After graduation, she attended Ball State University, studying elementary education. She taught at Metea, Fulton, and Caston for many years, and continued substituting long after retirement. 

Donna loved being on her farm outside of Macy where she annually grew a garden big enough to feed her family, the neighbors, and just about everybody else in the community. She loved spending time in the kitchen preparing meals for her family and baked goods to share with others. In the fall, she worked day and night canning and freezing enough food to feed several armies all winter long. She was no stranger to the swine barn, and she often served her own farm-to-table meals, spreading out a feast that she created truly from start to finish. Nanny’s kitchen was always a place to find a warm cup of coffee or a sweet treat. 

Donna was active in 4-H for many years. She worked with the Home Extension Club, 4-H Governing Board, and 4-H Council to make sure the youth in the community had the resources they needed to participate. She loved helping with 4-H projects, making sure baking recipes and sewing patterns were followed precisely. No matter how many passed through her kitchen taking cooking lessons, there was nobody that ever made noodles quite like Nanny’s. 

Donna was a longtime active member of the Macy Christian Church, Macy Mother’s Club, the Order of the Eastern Star, and Manitou Moose 1107. For many years she served on the Miami County Farm Bureau Board, where she was women’s leader and always looked forward to working the booth at the Indiana State Fair. She had a love for basketball, especially when Purdue or her grandchildren were playing! 

Donna and Dee were blessed with two children, Lester Bruce (Gloria) Carvey, and Kathleen Kaye Carvey (Brad) Hermann. She was the proud grandmother of Tanya Hermann McKee, Lisa A. Carvey Reffett, and Stacey Carvey-Schoenhals; and great grandmother of Kelsey, Kensey, and Karsyn McKee, and Jack Carvey Reffett. Donna was also blessed to have acquired many bonus children and grandchildren over the years, loving and caring for each of them just like her own. 

Donna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lester Dee Carvey; son, Lester Bruce Carvey; granddaughter, Stacey Angela Carvey-Schoenhals; and brothers, three brothers, Frank Richter, Dean Richter, and Harry Richter; and one sister, Mary Ross.

She is also survived by one sister, Helen Brutcher; and sister-in-law, Aretha Peterson.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana, with Pastor Dave Welsh officiating. Burial will follow in Plainview Cemetery, Macy. 

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday, at the funeral home. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Plainview Cemetery Association.

McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana, has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.mcclainfh.com.