1 week Ago
Birth: 1936 Death: 2024 It is with profound sadness that we share the peaceful passing of our beloved mother, Donna Marie Reynolds, who departed on December 8, 2024. Born in Watsonville, California, on June 7, 1936, to parents Harold and Mary (Willoughby) Reynolds, Donna was widely known for her effervescent personality, warmth, and loving spirit. She was a lover of all animals, and a pillar of strength and positivity, both revered and admired by her family and friends.
Among Donna’s most significant and gratifying accomplishments – in her own words – was the rearing of her five children. As she often referred to the lessons gleaned from her “Barnyard philosophy” developed during her many years in 4-H, these pearls of wisdom held her in good stead as she navigated the journey of motherhood. Her talents and interests were many.
Donna was born with a healthy competitive spirit, from playing a mean game of tetherball, to showing her beloved bull Ferber, to competing in golf tournaments. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed winning blue ribbons at the King City Fair for her stunning floral arrangements. Donna played both the violin and piano.
She enjoyed all kinds of music from Andrea Bocelli to Mozart to rock ‘n roll. No matter the time or place, a catchy tune would get Donna kicking up her heels. Our mother just loved to dance! Donna grew up in King City on a cattle ranch and in her youth, enjoyed leisure time spent with her brother in Capitola, canoeing on Soquel creek and watching the construction of the Shadowbrook restaurant.
Donna attended her elementary years in King City, and high school in Santa Cruz. She attended Mills College for Girls in Oakland, Washington State at Pullman, and a summer at Stanford, followed with employment in Hospital Records in Santa Cruz before getting married and starting her family in 1956. A few of her proud moments include being recruited as a teen to demonstrate her golf swing in Reno to students, developing her public speaking skills by attending the Dale Carnegie course, and working Set Design for the motion picture industry in Hollywood.
Donna will be lovingly remembered by her four daughters, Deanna Davis, Mary Kay Craig, Andrea Radomski and Leslie Muzzio, her three son-in-laws Curt Craig, Rob Radomski and Joe Muzzio, her eight grandchildren Chelsea, Kylene, Rhys, Beau, Jennifer, Justin, Amanda and Lindsey, and her seven great grandchildren Griffin, Nora, Lila, Elias, Aiden, Finn and Cedar, also cousin Jane Wooster, nephew Dave Reynolds and nieces Sharon Warmboe and Gina Reynolds, best friend Larry Homen, along with many other loved ones whose friendships greatly enriched her life. The family would like to thank Donna’s former private caregivers in King City – Rosemarie, Michelle, and Ingrid. These young ladies were an immense help while Donna lived on the ranch, offering their dedicated support for two years.
The family would also like to thank the dedicated Memory Care staff at Aegis Living of Aptos for their friendship, love and attention they gave to our mother during her fourteen months there. She truly loved her new home and often referred to her caregivers as “family.” Words cannot express how grateful we are for the enriching experience they provided her.
Donna is preceded in death by her adoring son, Darrell, and her beloved brother, Eugene. Donna’s loss is deeply felt by her expansive family and those who knew and loved her. She was cherished by many.
Her memory will continue to live on and inspire strength, conviction, resilience and compassion in those lives that she touched. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled after the holidays at a future date. In lieu of flowers, consider a memorial donation to Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, One Intrepid Square, New York, NY 10036, www.
fallenheroesfund.org, or The Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, P.O.
Box 30783, Tucson, AZ 85751, www.alzheimersprevention.org Honor with Flowers In memory of Donna Plant a Living Memorial In memory of Donna.
