Donna Joy Smith

On Friday, September 12, 2025, Donna Joy Smith, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away at the age of seventy-nine, surrounded by her devoted family.

Donna was born on October 14, 1945, to Marvin and Kathleen Lupton, who were married while Marvin was stationed overseas in England during World War II. After Donna’s birth, Kathleen crossed the Atlantic with her infant daughter aboard the Queen Mary, where Marvin was waiting to reunite with them in New York. Donna spent her childhood in Boise, Idaho, growing up on “The Hill” at the end of 8th Street on Heights Drive. Donna often spoke fondly of those years and the lifelong friendships she formed there, including Penny Dodd, whom she claims has been a sister to her since they met at two-years-old.

She was attending Boise High School when she met Jerry Smith, and the pair continued to date throughout her time attending Boise Junior College. Their love story began young, and a favorite family memory is of the day Jerry walked her into Sextie’s jewelry store and asked, “Do you have an engagement ring for this girl?” They married in 1965 and recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, just days before her passing.

Donna worked for a time at Boise State University in the Psychology Department before choosing to stay home and raise her growing family. She and Jerry welcomed three children - Bryan, Craig, and Stephani - and together built a loving, tightly knit home rooted in faith, laughter and deep love.

To know Donna was to feel and witness this deep love. She showed up for people in consistent, thoughtful ways: always listening with a smile and making everyone feel like they belonged. Between her three children and nine grandchildren, you could always count on her to never miss a sports game, school program or birthday celebration – regardless of how big or small it seemed.

She created a home that became a safe and welcoming place for anyone who walked through her door. She had a particular love for hummingbirds, Boise State football, collecting Christmas decorations and secretly feeding any dog that wandered under the table during dinner.

She lived by example - with grace, strength, and a deep faith that shaped the way she loved others. Her influence lives on in the way her family loves, cares, and shows up for one another. She built a foundation that will continue to carry through generations, impacting not only her family, but the Boise community at large.

Donna is survived by her husband, Jerry; her children Bryan (Dawn Smith), Craig (Christina Smith), and Stephani (Ed Schonberger); her grandchildren Lauren Vaughn (Clint Vaughn), Madison Smith, Kayla Waterman (Brannon Waterman), Brendan Smith, Ava Joy Smith, Julia Smith, Jake Schonberger, Nicholas Smith and Brady Smith, as well as her first great granddaughter, Norah Mary Vaughn, who was just recently born to Lauren and Clint Vaughn.

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 am, on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 1500 E. Wright St. in Boise., with a reception to follow.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.