Donna was born to Velma Mann (Manley) who named her Judith Ray; Ray, after her brother, but she was to be adopted by Dorothy and Charles Harris very soon after birth. Dorothy and Charlie lived just a few blocks from the Manley home and Dorothy and Velma were friendly with each other. Velma and her mother, Ella, would visit my mom on occasion for the next few years and it took a full year for Velma to sign the final adoption papers. Charlie changed her name to Donna, stating that they call donkeys Judys and his daughter, "will not be named after a donkey!" She was a daddy's girl from the word go. They lived in house right on a bend of the Big Blue River in Beatrice, NE. It is still there, a white one with red trim and broken steps, just west of the bridge. They had a black lab dog that mothered her and when she was two years old she got too close to that river's bank and that dog snatched her up by the hem of her skirt, no doubt, saving her life.
When she was four years old Donna and her parents moved to Lincoln. Her parents did not want her to hear any negative talk about her biological mother, who was divorced from her abusive husband and had children out of wedlock. She was quite scandalous for the 1930 and 40s. It is also of note that Velma's mother was rather cold toward her and Velma was petite and beautiful. Dorothy used to tell Donna to not believe anything negative people said about her mother and that her mother, "just loved too much." She was looking for affection and acceptance and fell hard and fast. Velma died when Donna was twelve and Dorothy took her to the funeral. Velma had remarried and had two daughters there who knew nothing about Donna but were soon introduced to her by their paternal aunt. A couple of years later she brought a girl home from school, Patricia, who happened to be a sister too. Dorothy told her later that day and she was pretty excited. Eventually she found that the oldest siblings from the first marriage were Twila and Cecil, then Patricia (Pat), herself, Arla and Cheryl. She got to some pictures of her biological father, Norman VanArsdale just a few months ago.
Although an avid reader, she was not a fan of school and tired of housekeeping at home, decided to marry a boy when she was fifteen. Needless to say, she was back home a year or so later and eventually completed her GED as an adult. In her early twenties she was seeing a gorgeous man, Bob Gayley and had a gorgeous baby, Robert, but he was called Bob or Bobby. Bob, was as smart as he was beautiful and curious about everything; walking at nine months of age. About this time she was falling in love with an Air Force private from the base in Lincoln, named Steven Leishman. He was nineteen. She was twenty-four. His Mormon parents in Utah did not want them to get married. So, they decided if she was pregnant they would agree, which they did. They all moved to Utah then and Donna proved to be an extraordinary homemaker and mother. She gave birth to Ronald Shane (Shane). He came a bit early so he was wrinkly. His development was normal but she thought maybe something was wrong after the rapid development of Bob. However, he was fine and Shane was very happy baby, with a smile quick to his lips, even soon after Bob tried to flush him down the toilet when was about a year old. She could redirect with gentleness and fun; not having to raise her voice or allow situations to escalate out of control. In late 1966, Steve told Bob and Shane that mom was going to have a baby girl just for her, which is exactly what she did! When I was born in 1967 my mother did not have any labor pain and I grabbed the doctor and and nurse's finger's before birth. I slept all of the time. She had to wake me up to feed me and I would sleep through the night. She treasured all of these things.
Donna and her three children came back to Nebraska to visit her parents in the later part of 1971. She and Steve were having marriage troubles so Steve told her to stay in Nebraska, with her family. She was pregnant at the time and when she was six months along she took a tumble down some stairs and went into labor. Katrina was born but only lived for a day, devastating her. That was a very difficult time for her and she struggled greatly. She remarried an abuser a few years later who caused her to become disabled. He tried to kill her. He did not succeed. She always said, "I had three kids to raise!', which she did with strength and courage and gentleness. She loathed self pity and laziness. I came home from school to find her in her body cast, sweeping the kitchen floor, because "it just was not clean enough!"
She married Wayne Free later in life and shared more than fifteen years with him. Although circumstances arose that ended this marriage ten years ago, he is very much loved by her children and grandchildren.
As the grandchildren and great grandchildren arrived she would beam with pride. She the grandma that stopped people to show them pictures.
Four years ago she met a gentleman in her apartment complex, named Wayne Patton. Wayne turned out to be the one she had been waiting for all of her life. She said he is her soulmate and it is evident to see. He loved her exactly how she needed to be loved and although she may have never realized for herself what an intelligent, beautiful, kind and open person that she was, he did. He also loved the stubborn, sassy and wisecracking woman that we all love too.
Mom, you will be missed beyond measure. I'm thankful for the love and thankful that you have a saving relationship with Jesus. We will see you again.
She is survived by three children, Robert Platt, Shane and Teresa Leishman, grandchildren: Cristi Willis, Steven and Taeyler Leishman, Amber Criner, Lindsey Leishman and Nick Meints, Brittany Willis and Skyler Leishman
Great Grandchildren include: of Cristi-Ethan Willis, Laney Willis, Kaden Willis, of Steven-Tre'ton Leishman, Marlee Leishman, Harloe Leishman, Blaeckley Leishman, of Lindsey-Aubrie Leishman, Mady Leishman and Brooklyn Leishman
and the love of her life Wayne Patton
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