Donna Jean Laney

Donna Jean Laney St. Joseph, Michigan A free spirit and courageous warrior has passed on. Donna Laney, 43, died after living a spectacular life while waging war with cancer. Donna was an avid equestrienne, showing her own horses, a reader of many books, an artist and a lover of all animals large and small. Donna traveled extensively with her husband to unusual places like Tanzania, Kenya, Bolivia, Peru and Spain. She also acted as an Earthwatch volunteer on expeditions to Nepal and Western Australia. Donna was born January 2, 1959 in Dowagiac, Michigan. She graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 1977. She attended Western Michigan University and earned a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics in 1985. Donna worked at several local business including LECO, Ausco Products, Wilderness Foods and Gardmens Products. In 1996, she started Westwood Consulting, where she assisted North American manufacturing companies with their quality initiatives (ISO QS 9000). She was active member in the local chapter of the American Quality Society and held several high level quality certifications. On October 27, 1984, she married Philip J. Laney who survives her along with their 6-year-old son, Dawson. Other survivors include Donna?s mother, Laurine Lawrence, sisters Julie (Jerry) Koch, Suzanne (Mike) Ernzen, Gaye (Jerry) Prillwitz, Marcia (Don) Moore, brothers Bill (Judy) Lawrence, Tom (Lynne) Lawrence, Dennis Wilson, in-laws Dick and Rene Laney, Lynn Davis, Rick and Brenda Laney and Doug and Laura Litke. Her father Nolan Lawrence preceded Donna in passing. She will be greatly missed but never forgotten by her many relatives and friends. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 pm Friday, March 22 with Celebration of Life and Soul Transition on Saturday, March 23, 11:00am, at Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, St. Joseph, Michigan. Memorials of flowers may be made or donations in Donna?s name can be made to Animal Aid, P.O. 407, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or the American Cancer Society call 1-800-227-2345 or P.O. Box 79604, Baltimore, MD 21279.