ROSEDALE - Donna Mae Huxford of rural Rosedale passed away Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at Union Hospital.

Donna was born on November 29, 1927, in Harvey, IL to Opal Webster (DeGroff) Lucas and Haywood Charles DeGroff.

She married Perry Seth Huxford on her eighteenth birthday, November 29, 1945. Perry and Donna lived nearly all their married lives in the home in Parke County where Perry was born. They took great pride in improving their beloved home over the years. Home and family were very important to them along with being good neighbors. Donna was a true Matriarch in every sense of the word.

She is survived by two daughters, Karen McHargue of Roachdale and Sharon Mattison of Terre Haute; along with a daughter-in-law Rhonda (Luther) Huxford of Clay City. Surviving grandchildren include Darrell McHargue (Nancy) of Roachdale, Lisa McHargue Parent of Wauwatosa, WI, Veda Vester (Jeff) of Terre Haute, Angie (Liam) Castellan of Pittsfield, MA and step-grandchildren Valerie Dulisse (Chuck) of San Tan Valley, AZ, Vicki Mattison of Mesa, AZ, Marvin Mattison and Lisa Mattison, both of Terre Haute. Great-grandchildren include Marissa Parent (Matt Verstagen), triplets Matt, Alex and Ben McHargue, Sierra and Abigail Vester, Chase and Emberlyn Huxford, Brandon and Steve Dulisse, Jeff Armi, Nicole Theimer, Joe Mattison and Amanda Roberts. Also 8 great-great-grandchildren.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband Perry, son David, sons-in-law Dick McHargue and Marvin Mattison, granddaughter Rena Alexander, grandsons James and Michael, and half sister Shirley Altman, and half brother Paul DeGroff and his daughter Debbie.

Donna was raised her first seven years by her grandparents Dick and Dovie Webster along with their two youngest boys Faye and Bob, who were more like brothers than uncles. At around 7 years, her stepdad, Willis Lucas, entered her life and she began to help him farm. One of her prized possessions is a newspaper clipping of herself en route to the field with a team of horses (1945). A childless neighbor couple, Bea and Harry Biddle, often asked her to stay with them and referred to her as their daughter. Willis' sister, Carmen, also took her under her wing. Eventually, a very good friend of Donna's mother, Cecil Henson Bishop (also childless), began to mentor Donna.

When Donna was 65 years old, after both parents were deceased, Cecil and her husband Mark adopted Donna as their own. In all, Donna essentially had three mothers - Opal, Bea and finally Cecil.

Donna learned to sew at a very young age. Once her kids started school, she worked at the Clinton garment factory each school year making Bobbi Brooks clothes for girls, then would break for the summer to care for her kids and return the following fall. She later worked at CBS and in the Assessor's Office at the Rockville Courthouse.

Donna was particularly proud of the "Make A Difference" award she received for designing and sewing hundreds, if not thousands of red, white and blue bags for shell casings fired at veterans' funerals. She alone financed the entire project for years and donated the handmade bags to all Legions, VFW's and Marine Corps Leagues in the area.

She also mentored several people to learn to sew. She could read a book in a single day and regularly checked out several books at a time at the public library. She loved flowers and displayed a boatload in her yard every summer including both perennials and annuals. She had a love affair with the hummingbirds and made two gallons of sugar water a day to feed her little critters.

Donna was an inspiration to all who knew her as a true "go-getter." She was quoted in the last month as saying "for every day you're not learning, you're sliding backward." She lived her life true to her word.

Visitation will be held 10 am to 1 pm on Sunday, June 23, at Mattox-Wood Funeral Home. Services will be held at 1 pm at the funeral home with Pastor Perry Major officiating. Donna will be laid to rest in Roselawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 or donations@tunnel2towers.org to donate online.

Fond memories and condolences may be made at:

www.mattoxwood.com