Donna  Booth

On June 19th, 2016, Donna exhaled one last time and ended her journey on this earthly plain, and a star was born. Her bright blue twinkling eyes are now twinkling in the night sky.

Donna was born in Great Falls May 26, 1928, to James and Elizabeth Meagher and was the 3rd of 5 children. Her family lived in Miles City, Bozeman, and Cut Bank in her youth and they moved back to Great Falls where Donna graduated Great Falls High in 1946. After graduation she worked for an insurance company and at the Paris department store. In 1948 she married another Great Falls native, Floyd Booth. She and Floyd started their family in Great Falls with five boys.

In 1958 the family moved to Missoula when Floyd bought a partnership in the Missoula County Times, a weekly newspaper and commercial printing company. Donna worked along side Floyd, often with one or two of the now seven children playing or sleeping in large news print boxes. Floyd and Donna bought out the commercial division in 1962 and renamed it The Ink Spot. Donna worked there until 1967 when she went to work at the University of Montana in the registrars office and as a dorm mother. In 1969, with a Ford Foundation grant, she helped launch the Academic Advising Office and Pre-professional Students program. She started a library, bulletin, and a preceptorship program with local doctors assisting students in achieving placement in the medical, dental, optometry, and veterinary schools. After 11 years at U of M she left to become marketing director for Opportunity Workshop, where she was instrumental in starting the Furniture refinishing department. She was also the state director of Very Special Arts for the handicapped program to provide art programs and hands on experience for handicapped children and adults.

Donna and Floyd were very active in the Catholic faith and helped start the CFM (Catholic Family Movement) chapter in Missoula, in which they were active for many years. Donna was a certified Lay Minister and was a Wedding coordinator at Christ The King for many years.

Donna loved to travel and after Floyd died she bought a motor home and enjoyed many trips around the Northwest. She also traveled to Ireland, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Israel, and Thailand.

In the fall of 1994, Donna moved to Portland, OR. where she was involved with St. Clare's church. She joined the Oregon Watercolor Inst. where she took classes and traveled with other students to paint. In June of 1999 Donna once again packed up her house and moved to Sun City, AZ. where the sun and fellow Missoula friends beckoned. She worked at Ace Hardware in Sun City until she retired from work in 2004 and devoted her time to painting, relaxing, and enjoying her many longtime friends.She was awarded many ribbons for her art.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Betty, brother Jim, husband Floyd, and son Randy. She is survived by her sisters, Mary Stayton of Lakeside, MT, and Patricia Dwyer of Albuquerque, NM, her sons Tom (JoAnne), Rick (Rhonda), Jim, Todd (Tammy Armstrong) all of Missoula, Don (Fred Korman) of Portland, OR. and daughter Karla Booth (Rick Correll) of Patterson, NY. Also surviving are grandson Kevin Booth (Tori) and grand-daughter Tara Gergen (Mila), and 7 great grandchildren, Tanner, Lauren, Emma, and Kiran Booth, of Lolo: Lila, Lima, and ) Jabez Gergen, of Missoula.

Donna wanted to thank the entire Booth family, and Hospice of Missoula for their support and loving care the past several months. A special thanks to hospice staff Jaimi, Anne, Navelle, and Mary.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of Missoula, 800 Kensington, Ste. 204, Missoula, MT. 59801. A Funeral mass will be held Thursday, June 23rd, 2016 at 2:00p.m. at Christ the King church, 1400 Gerald Ave. A reception will follow the service at the Church.