Donna Marie Garner Woolley

Donna Marie Garner Woolley, a woman whose life was defined by love, service, and adventure, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. She was 93 years old.

Born on May 22, 1932, in her grandmother’s home in Roy, Utah, Mom was the second of six children to Carrie Charlotte Coy and Vern Garner. Her early years were filled with the joy of a large extended family, living just across the yard from her paternal grandparents.

At age four, Mom's family moved to Burley, Idaho, where her father pursued farming and ran a small dairy. Nearing her 13th birthday, the family relocated to Nyssa, Oregon, seeking better farming opportunities. There, Mom blossomed into a lively, red-headed cheerleader, cherished by many friends. It was in Nyssa, at the age of 16, that she met the love of her life, Ezra Keith Woolley. Dad was instantly smitten by her red hair and freckles, affectionately calling her "Red" throughout their lives together. They were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 17, 1949.

Mom and Dad began their married life in a small cottage in Nyssa before moving to Parma, Idaho, where Mom worked as a telephone switchboard operator. They soon returned to Nyssa to farm, building a profitable operation together. During winter months, Mom would milk cows in the evenings while Dad worked the night shift at the Amalgamated Sugar Factory.

In 1958, seeking new opportunities, Mom and Dad moved their family to Othello, Washington, to establish a new farm in the burgeoning Columbia Basin. They started humbly, living in a small camper with no bathroom (bathing in an irrigation ditch), but they dreamed of a large, successful farm and a beautiful home. Mom worked tirelessly alongside Dad, managing the books, running for parts, and ensuring their family was well-fed, all while instilling in their five sons the values of hard work, fun, and big dreams.

Mom embraced life with enthusiasm, playing alongside her five boys, whether it was boating and water skiing in the summer or snowmobiling and snow skiing in the winter. As their farm thrived, Dad and his partners became pilots, acquiring a private airplane. Initially, Mom served as navigator, but she eventually earned her own pilot's license, ensuring two licensed pilots were always in the air with the family.

Later in life, Mom and Dad left their beloved Washington farms and moved to California. They spent summers at a ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming, where they hosted their children and grandchildren and enjoyed horseback riding and fly fishing.

A devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mom dedicated her life to serving others; "Service" truly was her middle name. After Dad's passing in 2006, following nearly 57 years of marriage, Mom did not slow down. Instead, she increased her service, caring for the "little old ladies" in her ward with her best friend Betty (even though Mom and Betty were in their 80s themselves), and serving in the Fresno California Temple. In 2019, she moved to Saratoga Springs, Utah, to be closer to her family.

Mom is survived by her five sons, Vance (Marie), Cliff (Zonda), Scott (Olga), Terry (Jill), and Dan (Alexandra); 18 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren, with another due in November; her sisters, Larna Munn and Lois Sharp, and her brothers, Jay Garner and Douglas Garner. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, who, along with her children, grandchildren, and numerous friends, mourn her passing.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, parents, grandparents, and older brother, Norman Garner.

Interment, Preston Idaho Cemetery. Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.