Donna Burnell

Donna Mae Burnell, 84, died Sunday, July 10, 2016, at her residence in Thermopolis after a short illness.

Born May 15, 1932, in Gebo, Wyo., she was the daughter of Lewis F. and Elizabeth (Benjamin) Skinner. Raised in Lucerne, she graduated from Thermopolis High School in 1950. On August 10, 1950, she married Rex Patterson in Thermopolis and two children, C.R. and Lin, were born to this union. In 1952, Mr. Patterson was killed in a car accident.

Donna married Dick Burnell on July 20, 1953, and along with Dick’s son, Charles, the couple added three children to their family. Although they lived in different states, Thermopolis was always their home to which Donna returned after Dick’s death in 2003.

A homemaker at heart, Donna worked for Diamond Cleaners in Thermopolis and One Hour Martinizing in Casper.

She was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Her interests included gardening, reading and her family.

She is survived by sons, Charles, C.R., Doug and Steve (Eva) Burnell; daughters, Lin Davenport and Julie (Jim) Enis; 16 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and her dog, Missy. 

She is preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; sister, Dorothy Cauthon; brother, Orville Skinner; son-in-law, Bo Davenport; and grandchildren, Rob, Roxanne and Mariah Davenport.

Private graveside services will be held by the family at Riverside Cemetery with Rev. Lin Davenport officiating. Mortimore Funeral Home assisted the family. Online memories may be expressed at http://www.mortfh.com.