Donna Mae Stottlemyre

Donna Mae (Clark) Stottlemyre

Donna Mae (Clark) Stottlemyre, age 85, of Kirksville, MO, formerly of Unionville, MO, passed away peacefully in her home on May 30th, 2014. She was surrounded by her loved ones, including her devoted husband of 68 years.

Born in Mystic, Iowa, on November 11, 1928, Donna was the third of seven children, and was considered a loving daughter and sister, always available to help with any task, to provide love and encouragement, and to be a beautiful example of Christ’s love to those around her. One of her most treasured stories was when her father’s life was transformed by Christ, from a dangerous alcoholic to a God-fearing preacher, and through that moment her entire family’s life was changed when she was just 13 years old. Because of this miracle, Donna made it one of her life’s goals to share the Gospel with her children, grandchildren and anyone else who would listen. Through her time on this earth, the Lord undoubtedly touched many.

Donna married her sweetheart Robert (Bob) Stottlemyre on May 8th, 1946, three years after Bob had first noticed her singing at the little Button Church in Graysville, MO. Their children and grandchildren cherish their sweet love story and enjoyed listening to the couple retell it as they held hands and gazed at each other with a special twinkle in their eyes.

Bob and Donna were blessed with three children, Roger, Amber and Tammy. In addition to being an amazing mother, Donna was a hard worker and was involved in different businesses in Unionville, MO, over the years. She and Bob brought the first Tastee Freez to the town in 1952, and later opened Donna’s Floral and then Donna’s Dress Shop in the ‘70s. They also opened, owned and operated Donna’s Bridal & Jewelry Boutique in the ‘80s. Through her businesses, Donna made life-long friends with many of her employees and customers.

Donna was a member of the First Baptist Church in Unionville for 46 years and was an active servant in the children’s ministries and also in her WMU “Circle” group. Later in life she was a member of the Hamilton Street Baptist Church in Kirksville MO. She was well known for being a gracious hostess for her Circle group meetings, and also for her Sunday lunches for pastors and any other friend or family member who needed a meal to eat or a place to stay. She was a very talented home cook, and has always been known for her homemade apple or gooseberry pies, bunny cakes, caramel dumplings, and of course her famous cinnamon rolls…everything she made was delicious.

To spend time with Donna was a gift. She was always full of fun and excitement, whether she was having a tea party with a table full of grandchildren, yodeling, humming or singing a hymn, modeling the latest fashions from her most recent shopping trip or simply sitting down to have a cup of Café Vienna and a nice chat with friends or family. She had a beauty that radiated from within, and she was greatly appreciated and loved by all who knew her.

Donna is survived by her husband of 68 years, Robert (Bob) Stottlemyre. Also survived by—Siblings: Ila and husband Ervin Breon of Hedrick, IA, Ginny Arseneaux of Carrollton TX, CW and wife Jan Clark of Cedar Park, TX. Children: Roger and wife Connie Stottlemyre of Jefferson City MO, Amber and husband David Lupton of Kirksville MO, Tammy and husband Doug Childers of Green City MO. Grandchildren: Todd and wife Suzanne Stottlemyre, Troy and wife Amy Stottlemyre, Tanya and husband Jeff Schielke, Scott and wife Kim Phillips, Grant and wife Michelle Phillips, Tara D'Leigh Phillips, Jessica and husband Jason Salas, Regan and husband Michael Parks, Mark Lupton, Shawna and husband Ben Read, Charlie and wife Sarah Lupton. Siblings in law: Edna May Stottlemyre, Velda and husband Leland Schelp, and Kenny and wife Sandy Stottlemyre. Donna was also blessed to have 46 great-grandchildren and one more due soon.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence & Nina Clark; her in-laws, Lee & Esther Stottlemyre; her siblings, Ethel & Dick Brooks, Clarice & Herman Brown, Tommy Clark; siblings-in-law, Virgil and Rosanna Stottlemyre, Amber & Jim Humphrey, Vern Stottlemyre, Ilene and Pat Sylvester, Betty Stottlemyre and Darryl Arseneaux. Also preceding her in death was one grandson Tyler Childers and one great-granddaughter and namesake, Allyson Mae Phillips.

Funeral services for Donna Stottlemyre will be at Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, at 11:00 am on Tuesday, June 3, 2014. Visitation will be from 9:30 am until time of the service. Burial will be at the Unionville Cemetery, Unionville, MO

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northeast Missouri and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.

Special thanks to family and friends who have sent cards, visited and prayed for Donna, and also to Hospice, and to her granddaughter Tara Phillips for being Grandma’s beloved nurse and caretaker.


Transcribed from Hand-Written Notes:
The Testimony of Donna Mae Clark Stottlemyre
“I was saved at the age of 13, a few short weeks after I had seen a miracle. That miracle was seeing the overnight change in my Dad’s life. His salvation.

I was born in Mystic, IA, the 3rd of 7 children. Before I was 4 years old, I knew my dad was a heavy-drinker. He would swear, as they would say, like a sailor….and with it, he was violent, and I would just panic when he would beat my mother. I realized early that to me she was the most special mom in the world.

I had just started school in Mystic when my dad came home drunk again and beat my mother up and broke furniture and anything breakable and then left. We found out later, he went to the Dakotas to work. We were destitute and my Dad’s mother (she didn’t raise him or his sister but had just recently looked him up) came after us four children and mom. She took us to Des Moines to stay with her.
Later, Dad came back so we moved out. There were still the years of drinking and fights. I later found out why he would be gone weeks at a time; there were women too. Now you will know why I think of my mother as an angel. It was because she was the one that held our family together, and by 1937, we had a new little sister.

Before I was 12, I started taking care of 2 and 3-year-old girls, and a 7 month-old boy for $2.50 a week. But when I was at home, I realized over again how bad things were at home. The one thing that helped us through—the neighborhood grocer knew when Dad came home he would pay the bill. We’d even get a sack of candy then!

Mom knew to be very careful how much she got at the store; mostly, we ate bread and gravy and beans. But my mother never once said, ‘If your dad done different you wouldn’t have to live this way.’ Even though at times I hated my dad when he was so violent, I knew better. When my Dad’s brother and his wife came, I would hear them say, ‘Nina, you’ve just got to get a divorce so you can get help to feed and clothe all of you.’ I remember thinking, A fine brother you are! She did file for divorce once.

Mom finally told Dad things had to change. God had to give her the courage and there was not enough food to put on the table. By now, I was staying full-time where I babysat, because I don’t remember going to bed hungry, as my brother, just younger sis and just older sis told me after we were grown. Dad promised to change, go to Missouri and work in Grandpa’s coalmine. Money was so short that I stayed the summer with the people I babysat for, and my oldest sister was married now, so when they went to Missouri, there were just the three kids with them.

After school started, I went down and I could see nothing had changed. Every evening Dad went uptown in Graysville to the tavern, and there was that wine that was handy for him beside the cabinet. Though he refrained at times, still the fights. Then, that last fight when he was breaking everything in the kitchen after he beat Mom up….we divided between two uncles’ homes in the mining camp for the night.
We didn’t know that a revival had started at the Bottun Church. Come to find out as I heard him testify many times, that he knew he was at the bottomless pit and when he would leave the house that night, he would get to the “T” in the road. Right to the tavern or left to the church for the revival. After that last fight, and I know many prayers from the church people, he finally chose the church.

Brother Temple—the tramp preacher—a precious man of God, was called that because he tramped (walked) everywhere, preaching on corners and courthouse lawns. He was one of those who had invited him to church. Dad told in his testimony that when he walked in, the church service hadn’t started yet. All were visiting and a hush came over the building and Dad said one man close up front moved over and told Dad he could sit there. My Dad was saved that very night. Mom said when he came home, he walked in and said, ‘Mom, I got saved tonight,” and she quickly realized, it was for real.

The next morning, a good old Christian neighbor said my brother Tom had been over there that morning and said something different sure happened to my dad. He prayed before he ate and he didn’t swear once all through breakfast! His life was changed.

Bob and I met in this same little Button Church. He visited one night when I was leading the song service and many of you have heard him say he went home that night and told his folks, “I seen the gal I want for my wife!” 3.5 years later, we were married. Thank God for my Christian husband.

This all covered several years, and I can tell you, God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. In Romans 8….His Spirit bears witness with ours when we are his children. I’m so glad I am. My God can do anything.”
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