Donna Marie Hopkins

We have lost a beautiful mother, grandmother, and friend….a devoted and incredibly kind woman. Donna Marie Hopkins was born an only child on the cusp of the Great Depression in 1929 in Topeka, Kansas. She married her high school sweetheart Robert (“Bob”) in 1949 and after Michael was born, the young family fulfilled their dream of moving to Southern California, settling in Sherman Oaks. That began 70 years of deeply caring for family and friends and all who were fortunate to know her. Patrick, Lisa, and Leslie soon followed to now make a family of six. Being blessed as a stay-at-home mother, she was always available for her children during their formative years. Still, this allowed ample time to be very involved with several volunteer and social organizations, which resulted in being named and highlighted in the Los Angeles Times as “Family of the Year” in 1961. Jostens American Yearbook Company soon called Bob into management, which resulted in relocating the family to Visalia, California in 1970. This brought on a new season of change for Donna, which caused a deep faith in Jesus Christ to grow and remain throughout her life. After their youngest left for college, Donna enjoyed working for many years at a fine women’s clothing store called Les Girls. She loved to express her passion and love of fashion and jewelry and starting in the early 1960s, she developed a keen eye for decorating and antiques. After Bob’s death in 2010, her remaining years were spent living in their vacation home in the beautiful coast town of Morro Bay. Over the last seven years she was regularly visited by, and greatly enjoyed, the company of her children and their spouses, her six grandchildren, as well as her adopted “puppy dogs” Percy and Andy. They all blessed her with immense joy. As she approached her 90th birthday and while enjoying the magnificent Central Coast, God, in His great mercy, took her quickly as a result of a stroke. One of her greatest legacies will be the many years she enjoyed needlepointing exceptionally beautiful pillows, rugs, and wall hangings. Family, to this day, continue to display her work as a treasured reminder of the lovely, loving, and classy woman that she was.

Donna Marie Hopkins

October 16, 1929 - August 24, 2019