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Donna Lee Eves (Miner) - 9/17/2015

Class of 1941

Life sketch given by Vickie at Mom's Funeral: Donna Lee Eves "Miner" was born April 28th, 1923 in Storrs, Carbon County Utah. Storrs was a very small mining town renamed Spring Canyon a year later. Donna was the fifth child born to Jasper and Inez Eves. She had 5 brothers and 5 sisters. For some reason Mom taught us to recite their names: Elva, Sonny, Leo, Katie, Donna, Dorothy, Roy, Richard, Ilene, Jay and Connie. Just a couple of weeks ago she smiled as she said all their names.
When Donna was 2 years old her family moved to a small farm in Pleasant Grove, in an area called Manilla, near the mouth of American Fork. She remembered raising chickens, pigs, rabbits and even a cow. One of her jobs was herding the cow along the ditch banks to graze. Donna learned to be a hard worker and how to keep a clean house. When she was old enough, she earned money picking fruit; strawberries, raspberries, apples,cherries, peaches and pears.
She joined the 4-H club when she was 10 years old. Donna learned to sew, darn & cook. She would work alongside her mama and sisters in the kitchen making 8 - 10 loaves of bread, 2 or 3 times a week. They also canned hundreds of bottles of fruit and vegetables. She babysat and cleaned house for some neighbors earning herself a good reputation.
Donna attended school in Pleasant Grove. She was a bit of a tomboy and loved sports. She always told us what a fast runner she was. She played on the schools girl basketball team and girls touch football team.
Donna met Leo her future husband when she was in the 10th grade. He lived in American Fork and she saw him at a basketball game. She had noticed him up in the stands and at the dance after the game Leo came up to her and asked her to dance. She told him she didn't dance, but they talked and he ended up taking her home that night.
In 1939 Donna entered a 4-H club contest and she WON an all expense paid trip to Chicago. After graduating from Pleasant Grove High School she was offered a job as a housekeeper and nanny for a doctor in Hollywood, California. Leo didn't want her to go but Donna thought it was time. They kept in touch through the mail. After a month or so of writing back and forth Leo proposed. Donna accepted & she received her ring through the mail. They were married September 24th, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Donna and Leo worked hard for the next year and a half at a small arms plant in Salt Lake. Donna ran a big machine and inspected the bullets as they were released. They were in 7th heaven when she announced they were expecting their first child. Shortly thereafter Leo was drafted into the army for WWII. Donna moved back home with her parents and baby Donna Marie was born while Leo was far away in Italy.
Donna's mom (Inez Davis "Eves") health began to fail and she needed a warmer climate, so while Leo was overseas Donna and baby moved to California with her family. Donna got a job as "Rosie the Riveter" in El Monte where they assembled airplanes. The war finally ended and Leo came home to meet his little daughter for the first time on her 2nd birthday. Shortly after they bought a home and their second child was born in Long Beach, another girl....Ruth Ann.
Donna's Mom, Grandma Eves health was getting worse, so they sold their home and moved into a trailer in Grandma and grandpa's back yard so she could help her more. While living in this little trailer they were blessed with their third child, a boy this time....Ronald Leon.
With a growing family they bought a lot in Covina and started build their new home. In 1949 Leo, Donna and three kids moved into their dream home (the one we all remember on Kingside Dr.). The last three girls Linda Sue, Victoria Lee and Jullie Rae were born there.
Donna served in all the auxiliaries in the church; Primary, Mutual, Sunday School and Relief Society. She was a counselor and Relief Society President for 5 1/2 years. Countless Ward dinners found her in the kitchen and she worked endlessly on Ward bazaars.
Donna and Leo loved going to the temple. They served 4 stake missions together. In1988 they were called to serve as full time missionaries in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Mission.
Leo passed away June 1996 and a year later Donna sold the family home and built an addition on to Jullie's house here in Claremont, where she has lived the last 19 years.
Donna loved spending time with her family. She has 3 children here in California that enjoyed weekly visits with her playing games, eating and shopping. She has 3 children in Utah and would travel once or twice a year and spend some time with the families up there.

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