| Graduation Year | Class of 1960 |
| Date of Passing | Apr 27, 2023 |
| About | Donna Marie Meyer has been gifting her people with rich legacies since 1942, some she learned from her greatest teacher and dad, Don Schaum. He taught Donna and her kid brother, Scott, the adventures of "goin' Tom cattin'," "blowin' the stink off,”and the farewell message, "glad you got to see me." We are certainly glad we got to see Donna in this life, to share in her wisdom, humor, and unabashed honesty. If you asked her opinion on something, you were bound to receive a wry grin beneath a single raised eyebrow that inspired envy for even the best soap opera actress. You'd hear her warning coupled with a slight shoulder shrug: "Don't ask unless you're ready for me to tell it like it is." Here's how it was with Donna. She taught the girls in her life how to achieve the perfect manicure (absolutely never orange nail polish allowed), find bras that truly fit and flatter, and above all that "pretty is, is pretty does." Along with her dad and Scott, she's had some amazing men and boys in her life, especially "Hot Rod (Butch)" Meyer, her high school love and father of her two girls, Lori (Gale) Meyer Law and Kelly (John) Meyer Blum. After Rod's long and valiant fight against MS ended, Donna reconnected with Dick Bunting at their Zanesville Class of 1960 reunion. Together, Donna and Dick began enjoying grandchildren with Lori's daughters Arianna (Dana) Gallagher and Alyssa (Nathan) Keeley as Mamma and Pappa Dicky-Doo. After Dick died, Donna became Grand Donna to Kelly's daughters Cara (Nick) and Kate and step-grandma to Matthew Law. Most recently, she was a glowing Yiayia to Alyssa and Nathan's sweet, animal-obsessed son Jameson. Lori. like her father Rod, tempered our family's happiness with leaving us too soon. Lori fought MS until 2019 and was an ever joyful Nonnie to Jameson. Through all Donna's trials and triumphs, she stayed busy with cherished friends. furry and human alike, and sought creative ways to give back to her community. You nearly always found her with a Siamese cat on her lap. a can of Diet Rite to sip on, and a handful of Conn's chips causing her to smile. She's made and donated hundreds of hats to the Genesis Cancer Care Center. She worked backstage for the Miss Southeastern Ohio scholarship pageant for 30 years and served two generations of dancers as a Devilette mom and grandma. A proud Blue Devil, Donna remained loyal on her class reunion committee and as a trustee for the Zanesville Alumni Association scholarship committee. She enjoyed a fulfilling career of 29 years as bookkeeper and office manager for dermatologist Dr. Gordon Gifford. She has immersed herself in hobbies like genealogy, ceramics, sewing, floral arrangement, stained glass, and wedding planning. Any house Donna's ever graced has felt the touch of her flair for interior design with the requisite splash of blue in every space. Donna's uncanny knack for making fluffy, flawless bows (with dizzying speed) for wreaths is still unrivaled. Many of her artistic talents have supported philanthropic projects in the Gamma Gamma chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. In that sisterhood, Donna has nurtured lifelong friendships with many special women. She also built uniquely close bonds with her cousin-sister Carole Haynes and forever friends Marge Shorb, Barb Mitter, and Ann England. Donna's vanity plates tell it like it is for her, DMM OK. Life has been both kind and cruel to her. Either way, she's been strong, true to her ideals, and has made everything as okay as can be for herself and those she loves. The most essential truth Donna embraces is this: no matter what life offers, it's up to us to accept what we have with dignity and fortitude. As long as we do our level best, holding fast to our integrity, it's all okay. And in the moments that it's not okay. you can pop a dark chocolate covered cherry in your mouth, dust yourself off, and keep trying again tomorrow. Together we will celebrate being ok just the way Donna would like. A Celebration of Life Service will take place Sunday, May 7, 2023, from 2 PM to 5 PM at the VFW Hall, 1318 Putnam Ave, Zanesville. |
