Donna Mae Lister, 77, of Griggsville, died on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, following a seven-year battle with cancer.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield. Interment followed at Griggsville Cemetery.
Mrs. Lister was born July 25, 1941, the second of 14 children, in Hillsboro, to Raymond and Dorothy (Rufus) White. She married Paul D. Lister on Sept. 7, 1962, in Vandalia, and he preceded her in death.
In early years, she and her husband spent Saturday night and Sunday afternoons playing cards at Grandma Alice's or Uncle Harold and Aunt Mary Lee's in Barry with all of the Lister family. She also enjoyed bowling, starting a league in Perry with her husband. She eventually joined a women's league in Pittsfield on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday nights.
Mrs. Lister began working for Oscar Meyer in 1976, working alongside her son Rick for many years. When the plant reopened and become Cargill, she worked as a quality control inspector and did her job well, retiring in 2008. When her fellow co-workers saw her coming, they would say, "Oh no, here comes Donna."
She loved playing softball and travelled all over playing on the Farmers Fillies, and eventually started a 13 years and older softball group in Pike County called The Slammers, so her daughter could play. She loved each and every one of the players. Additionally, she enjoyed camping with family and friends, playing cards and putting puzzles together with her sisters Carol Jean and Patty Ann. Above all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and watching them play sports.
Mrs. Lister was a very strong-willed and determined woman who was instrumental in the rejuvenation of the Griggsville Apple Festival in 1972.
She is survived by two daughters, Sheri Lynn (Leon) Clark of Beardstown and Debbra Sue (Joseph) Browning of Perry; eight grandchildren, Eric, Krista, Hope, Gregory, Kayla, Andrew, Matthew and Chad; three stepgrandchildren, Chad, Josh and Lane; eight great-grandchildren, Bradyn, Ashtyn, Dean, Nathaniel, Max, Saylor, Owen and Maelyn; a daughter-in-law, Vanessa Lister; siblings, Patricia Ann Swofford of Mulberry Grove, Ray Philip White and Bob White, both of Vandalia, Stella Louise Rogers of Alma, Edmond Jennings White of Vernon and Beverly Kay Brewbaker of St. Elmo; and her beloved dog, Rocko.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Lister was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Ricky Lee Lister; siblings, Carol Jean Currie, Jerry Lee, Arthur Edward, Dickie Dean, Charles Henry, Raymond Junior and Robert Eugene White, in infancy; and one stepgrandchild, Shawn Clark.
Memorials may be directed to the Pike County Cancer Society.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.nieburfh.com.
