Donna was born on December 13, 1944, in Burbank, California and passed away on January 3, 2012, in Westlake Village, California, at the age of 67. She lived and attended school in Burbank, graduating from Burbank High School in 1963.
Donna married Grant Finster in 1965 and they moved to Newbury Park shortly after they got married, where they soon started a family. First, daughter Josephine was born in 1967 and two years later, son Jeffrey would join the family.
They were very active in the Church of Latter-Day Saints ward and made life-long friends. Camping at Leo Cabrillo Beach was a favorite activity that Donna, her family and her LDS family and friends enjoyed for many years and some are still enjoying to this day.
After marrying Lawrence Watkins in 1974, Donna gave birth to daughter Amy in 1975.
She and her family moved to Las Vegas, Utah and back to California, where she was the happiest, being closer to her many friends. Donna loved collecting turtles, live, ceramic, and wooden, at one time had over 1000 turtles in her collection. She also was a very talented seamstress, making clothes and costumes for her children and grandchildren. Another passion was baking, particularly gingerbread houses at Christmas time. She especially enjoyed teaching others how to make this holiday decoration. Donna was a loving and giving person and loved her family and friends with all her heart, especially her children and grandchildren.
Surviving Donna are daughter Jodi (husband Kevin) Keller of Newbury Park, son Jeff Finsterof Hesperia, and daughter Amy (partner/wife Gia de Leon)Watkins of Rancho Cucamonga. Grandchildren include Cassity Keller, Rachel Williams, Michael and Jared Finster. Also surviving Donna are sisters Diana Johnson, Dawn Livingston and brother David Cooper along with many nieces and nephews.
With friends too numerous to name, we'd like to acknowledge the Peterson's , the Barker's, Kenny Estep and Helen Belsheim Moore as some of Donna's most treasured people in her life.
Funeral services will be Friday, January 6, 2012, at the Newbury Park Stake Building, Newbury Park, with viewing at 1 p.m. and services beginning at 2 p.m. Internment will be Monday, January 9th, time will be given upon request, at the Green Hills Cemetery in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Arrangements were made with the assistance of Griffin Family Funeral Chapels, Thousand Oaks. (805)230-2800
Source:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/venturacountystar/obituary.aspx?n=donna-lee-watkins&pid=155346482&fhid=2335
