Donna Lou McNerney

Edmore- Donna Lou McNerney, age 96, of Vestaburg passed away at the home she was born in on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, surrounded by her beloved family. Donna was born to parents, Clare and Gladys (Hare) Beach at the farm on December 16, 1928, along with her twin brother Dean Luis. She arrived in this world with fiery red hair and freckles. More boy than girl, she loved to play outside with her best friend (Dean). Donna grew up during the Great Depression, forever touching her life, teaching her to make the most of what she had and to value things until they have truly worn out.

She went to a one-room schoolhouse, on the corner of Crystal and Kendaville roads. Donna said everything she learned she did by watching Dean. She graduated with the Class of 1946 at Vestaburg High School, where she was the 5'2" starting defensive guard on the undefeated girls' basketball team back in the day when they played 6 on 6 and only 3 players on each team could be in either the offensive or defensive zone at one time. As such she was inducted into the Vestaburg Sports Hall of Fame. After high school, Donna's father helped her through beauty school at M J Murphy Beauty College. There she excelled and was even invited to Mackinac Island do the hair of the cast members of "This Time for Keeps" in 1947. Industrious and hardworking, she opened her own salon, employing several other beauticians and became well known in her community. She was at one time president of the Michigan Hairdressers Association and served on the board of the School of Cosmetology run by Montcalm Community College. Later, she sold the business and moved the shop to her home so she could "be there" for her kids and successfully did so until her retirement in 1990.

On May 18, 1949, Robert Joseph (Bobby Joe) McNerney married Donna, and they started a family in 1950. She raised 4 children with strength and humor and a great deal of affection. She loved fiercely, prayed fervently, wept openly and didn't find it necessary to say, "Wait until your father gets home." Along with raising her children, Donna raised a host of other kids to love Jesus, as a Sunday School teacher at Vestaburg Church of Christ for nearly 30 years. She was an adventurous soul, growing old but never growing up, even as a grandmother who was still climbing trees higher than the grandkids. Donna also enjoyed gardening, arranging flowers, cooking, sewing, and quilting over the years.

Donna will be deary missed by her daughter Kris Ann McNerney-Blake; sons Timothy (Debbie) McNerney, Thomas (Rhonda) McNerney, Greg (Becky) McNerney; grandchildren Hayley, Holly, Hilary (Philp), Heath (Kellie), Hannah (K.C.), Alisa (Joe), Anna (Chris), Samuel, Amber (Toren), Rebekah, Rachel, and Amanda; 16 great-grandchildren; and sister Janet Yesmunt; brother in law, Tom Johnson.

Preceding Donna in death are her parents; twin brother Dean Beach, who was killed while serving in the Air Force during Vietnam; husband Bobby Joe in 2005; and siblings Kendall Beach, and Jackie Johnson; Brother in law, Norm Yesmunt.

A celebration of life for Donna's life will take place on Friday, July 11, 2025, at Vestaburg Church of Christ at 3:00 PM with sons Timothy and Thomas McNerney officiating. Family will receive and greet friends from 12:00 PM until the time of service. Interment will take place on a later date at Ferris Township Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions in Donna's honor be made to Rock Lake Christian Assembly.