Obituary of Donna Mae Williams

Williams, Donna Mae (nee Stuart) Peacefully passed away at her home on August 27, 2016. She was 72. Donna died with her family, her animals, her birds and her woods. She was an artist, having attended both the Minneapolis School of Art and Design, and the University of Minnesota. She loved sculpture, watercolors, bronze, and photography. She was wonderfully creative. She fretted for the future of her polar bears. She loved and collected children's books and their fantastical stories. She, like her mother, was always a child at heart. She is survived by her husband, Bob, with almost 50 years of marriage (she worked hard to reach that golden anniversary); her best friend, and daughter, Anne-Marie Kathryn Flannery (David) and her wonderful, wonderful granddaughter, Rachel Kavanagh Flannery, 11 going on 45; her powerful and so caring son, Christopher Kavanagh Williams. Her ashes will be strewn on the land she loved and cherished for so long. Donna graduated from Edina-Morningside High school in 1962. Although she took two years of French, and belonged to the French Club, her French teacher asked her not to continue with the language. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mel and Harriet Stuart, and her sister, Janice Lorraine Lindskoog. She grew-up in Edina, lived many years in Eden Prairie, and then moved to her home by the Minnesota River 32 years ago. She raised and rode American Saddlebred Horses, which she loved dearly. She also took in stray cats (more than necessary) and adopted a discarded burro. She had the gift to read people so well, and was amazingly insightful into people's personalities. We will remember her life, and what she gave to all that knew her, at the appropriate time in the future. If you want to celebrate her life, give a pittance or more, to the cause that you love most dearly. She thanks you from her powerful heart. "Lay down your sweet and weary head Night is falling. you have come to journey's end. Sleep now, and dream of the ones who came before. They are calling from across the distant shore. Across the sea a pale moon rises The ships have come to carry you home. And all will turn to silver glass A light on the water Grey ships pass Into the west."