Obituary of Ann Donelson

Eudora Ann Donelson was born on April 18, 1925, in Maryville, Missouri. She graduated from high school in Stennett, Iowa.

Ann received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from Iowa State University, where she met Harlan Jacob (Jake) Donelson. They married in August 1948.

Ann co-managed a farm equipment manufacturing business with Jake for more than 15 years. She was active in her church and community, served on the County Extension Board, was a 4-H leader, and was an active member of her P.E.O. chapter, a member of the Mayflower Society and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Ann and Jake lived in Iowa for many years, then moved to Texas. In Texas, Ann earned her Master’s in Early Childhood. She continued her studies and received her doctorate in Philosophy from Texas Woman’s University. Ann served as a Licensed Professional Family Counselor and taught in the Psychology Dept. at the University of Texas at Dallas.  While they lived in Texas, Ann wrote a column in the Plano Star Courier call “Understanding Your Child”.

In 2006, Jake and Ann retired to Shambaugh, Iowa —close to where they were both born and near their siblings in Fairfax, Missouri and Des Moines, Iowa.

Ann is survived by a brother-in-law, Wendell Mitchell of West Des Moines, Iowa, Children: Kathryn Donelson Collins and husband Raymond Collins, of Murphy, NC, David Donelson of Dallas, TX, and Pamela Donelson Burns and husband Charles Burns of Garland, TX. as well as 6 grandchildren, Robert Collins, Melissa Collins, Megan Collins, Emily Donelson Rich, Anna Burns, and Adam Burns, and 8 great-grandchildren.

 She was preceded in death by her husband Harlan Jacob Donelson, parents: Stephen and Gladys Williams, an infant brother, her brother Wendell C. Williams of Adel, and her sister, Christina Mitchell of West Des Moines.