Donna Jean Whitaker

Donna Jean Empey Whitaker
 
Donna Jean Empey Whitaker, 87,  passed away from cancer on February   9,   2017 at home surrounded by the love of her family.
 
Donna was born on March 14, 1929 in Burley, Idaho to Arthur  and  Mary Ann Morgan Empey.  She was the youngest of three daughters.  She had two older sisters, Gen and Nelda.
 
She went to LDS Business College after graduating from  Burley High School. Later she  served a mission in the Northwestern States Mission.
 
She married Ralph E. Whitaker in the Salt Lake Temple on November 3, 1952, and together they had five children, four girls and one boy.
 
She served in many callings in the LDS Church from ward organist to Relief Society and Primary President.  Later she served another mission with her husband to Portland Oregon Mission.
 
She has many talents: cooking, sewing, and spiritual discernment which she used to serve her family and friends. She is an accomplished pianist and organist and often accompanied her husband and other singers.  Her family is the joy of her life.  She is a great wife, mother, grandmother and great- grandmother and disciple of Jesus Christ.  She taught her children to always do their best and have compassion for other people’s feelings.  She enjoyed good uplifting music and reading non-fiction especially history.
 
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Ralph, her children and their spouses;
Connie  (David) Jones, Kristine (Randy) Satchwell,  Susanne (David) Procter, and John Whitaker, 11 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Mary Empey, and her sisters, Genevieve Graft and Nelda Lindford and daughter, Mary (Glen) Chatterton and grandson, Craig  Chatterton and daughter-in-law, Linda Whitaker.
 
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at the 
Rose Park 8th Ward chapel, 1155 North 1200 W, Salt Lake City, Utah. Viewings will be from 6 – 8 p.m.  on Friday, February 17, 2017  and  from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.