Obituaries

Donna Farnham Maginn

Photo of Donna Farnham Maginn
Donna Gwynn Farnham Maginn died on Tuesday November 18, 2014 with her family at her bedside. She was born on October 29, 1937 to Adrian and Jewell Farnham in Farmington, Missouri. After high school, Donna graduated from Deaconess Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri. She was married in 1960 to Michael Maginn, who preceded her in death in 1989. Surviving her are son Michael Sean Maginn and sons Ryan, Timothy, Patrick and their mother Teena of Bartlett, Tennessee; son Daniel Farnham Maginn (Leslie) and children, Riley, Maddie, Mollie Kate, Mary Margaret, Reese and Ross of Little Rock, Arkansas; Mollie (Kevin) Peacock and children, Gabriella and Nathan of Houston, Texas and the Philippines. Also surviving her are her twin sister, Dianna (Duke) Kegley of Kingsport, Tennessee; sister, Dixie Philipp of Cleveland, Ohio and her precious dog, Sam. Brother Dade Farnham of St. Louis, Missouri preceded her in death. Donna was very proud of her children and grandchildren, always giving support for sports, school activities, UT football and Vanderbilt Dance Team. Her nursing career spanned many years and various specialties; OR, ER, PRN Med-Surgery, Alcohol and Drug Abuse and back to OR. After earning her BSN at Union University in Memphis and graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1990, Donna taught surgical technologists in the clinical and classroom settings in the City/State Programs. She then returned to St. Francis Hospital Nursing as a Case Manager. After retirement, Donna dictated summaries for Dr. Richard Ennis. Volunteering was a big part of her life. In her early years, she taught Bible School. She also gave her time and talents to the Memphis Literary Council, Orpheum Theater as an usher and the Memphis in May office. She was a Trinity Hospital Camp Good Grief Volunteer and a decorated Communicant at Grace Presbyterian Church. She was a choir member, and made sandwiches and served for Presbyterian Soup Kitchen. She loved summers at the lake house, playing Bridge, reading, art & ballet. Donna had requested that in lieu of flowers all memorials to be made either to Grace Presbyterian Church, 6671 Yale Street, Bartlett, Tenn. 38134 or to the 20th Century Club Hope Lodge, Hope Away From Home for Cancer patients, 4011 Maryland Avenue, Little Rock, Ark. 72204 where her family had dedicated many hours of support. An anatomical bequest was made to MERI for research. The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday at Grace Presbyterian Church officiated by Pastor Mike Krech. The family will receive visitors at the Church after the service. "Mopsie", as she was affectionately known by all her family and their friends, will long be remembered for her friendliness, her love of chocolate and wine, her chicken scratch writing, the tattoo she never got to get, her love of fine linens and silver, her Disneyworld trips with grandkids, her strength, her determination to not miss anything, her love for surprises as long as she knew about them and her dog she loved that she feared leaving behind to her children (for the sake of the dog).

Published November 20, 2014

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