Travis Funeral Chapel

Donna Rae Smithson, age 72 of La Plata, Missouri, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.

Born April 18, 1951, at Grim-Smith Hospital in Kirksville, Missouri, the daughter of Raymond Laverne and Trella Mardella (Beeson) Stull. On January 8, 1972, at the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, MO, she was united in marriage to Sheryl Walliss Smithson who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Laverne Walliss and Karen Michelle Smithson of Stanberry, MO and Daniel Joe and Erin Michelle Smithson of La Plata, MO; one daughter, Jessica Rae and Michael Dale Hulett of La Plata, MO; 14 grandchildren, Emily Anne (Smithson) and Riley Riedel of Prescott, IA, Marissa Renee Smithson of Stanberry, MO, Calvin Dean Smithson, Vincent Walliss Smithson and Trevin Oliver Smithson, all of Stanberry, MO, Mikayla Elaine Smithson Gosney of Halfway, MO, Wyatt Daniel Smithson, Zane Walliss Smithson, and Lacy Michelle Smithson, all of La Plata, MO, Makayla Dawn (Hulett) and Kaleb Tipton of Macon, MO, Nikolas James Hulett of Macon, MO, Landyn Michael Hulett, Kendrick Daniel Hulett, and Jaxyn Parker Hulett, all of La Plata, MO; two great granddaughters, Kymber Dawn Tipton of Macon, MO and Elizabeth Jean Riedel of Prescott, IA; one great grandson, Kolt Michael Tipton of Macon, MO; one brother, Laverne Junior and Patricia Stull of Atlanta, MO; one brother-in-law, Jerry Smithson of Macon, MO; one sister-in-law, Phyllis and Wayne Lee McVay of Youngsville, LA; several nieces, nephews, cousins, including one who was like a sister, Pamela Jean (Beeson) Wright and her husband Norman of Moberly, MO; and many friends.

Her parents and sister-in-law, LaRue Smithson preceded her in death.

Donna was raised on the family farm in the Barnsville community, west of Atlanta, MO, and was a 1969 graduate of Atlanta C-3 High School. After attending Hannibal-La Grange University in Hannibal, MO, she worked at the Kirksville Daily Express. Following their marriage, Sheryl and Donna lived on the family farm in La Plata, MO. She enjoyed helping with the farm as much as her health would allow. Donna worked at the La Plata Home Press, Bangert Trucking, and was a substitute bus driver for both the La Plata R-II Schools and the Atlanta C-3 School. She always enjoyed listening to the children and the surprised looks on their faces when she said she knew or went to school with their grandparents. Often they would respond, “That means you are old!”

Donna enjoyed attending her children’s and grandchildren’s school, sporting events, and 4-H and FFA fairs. Also, she enjoyed reading, sewing, crafts, traveling/camping, and teaching about the love of Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation Jesus freely offers to all. She was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of La Plata, where she enjoyed working with the children. She had taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Acteens, Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors, Bible Drill, Awana, and Children’s Church. She was also the Church Clerk for several years and was a member of the Woman’s Missionary Union. In their younger years, Sheryl and Donna worked with youth group, and in more recent years they helped with the “Donut Hole” social time before Sunday School. She was also one of the church’s representatives on the La Plata Christian Ministries Board and served as secretery for the Hopewell Cemetery, west of Atlanta, MO.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday May 1, 2023 at the First Baptist Church in La Plata, MO. Burial will be in the La Plata Cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday, April 30, 2023 with the family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center of the First Baptist Church in La Plata, MO.

Memorials in memory of Donna may be made to the First Baptist Church of La Plata or to Lifeline Pregnancy Help Center of Kirksville, MO. They may be sent to or left at Travis Funeral Chapel, 125 S. Church St., La Plata, MO 63549.