Obituary

Frances Donella "Ladybug" (Thornton) Lais (1938 - 2015)

Obituary

September 9, 1938 to November 25, 2015

Frances Donella Thornton was born in Ponca City, Okla. on September 9, 1938 to Don Herbert Thornton and Frances Roseanna (Ficklin) Thornton. Donella lived and went to school in Arkansas City, Kan., Wichita, Kan., Maize, Kan., and Peabody, Kan. where she graduated from high school in 1956. During high school, Donella made lifelong friends and was both a cheerleader and majorette.

During Donella's younger years, the family home was often the gathering place for all the children in the neighborhood, especially when her dad made a revolving teeter-totter for their yard. Childhood memories include playing with paper dolls, learning to embroider, making doll clothes, and having a rope and gunny sack swing in the big tree in the front yard where they would climb to the top of a ladder and jump on the moving swing. Many nights, especially during the winter, the family would have popcorn or fudge candy nights. Donella developed a lifelong love of popcorn and had it as a nightly treat well into adulthood.

At family gatherings, conversations often turned to memories from childhood. Her sisters describe Donella as a prissy little girl, dressed in ruffles, who didn't like to get dirty and hated bugs, and now find it ironic that she would grow up to love camping and the outdoors.

Donella and her sisters, Lynette and Sheryl, were each one year apart in age. Being so close, they always had a playmate. All three girls had long hair down their backs and wore it braided until Donella decided to cut off her hair in the sixth grade. When Donella's baby brother Gary was born, he became a living doll to his sisters and was subsequently spoiled. However, Donella did not think he was quite as cute when pranks began to happen, especially when the girls were dating.

Donella was blessed to have both sets of her grandparents close and active in her life. One grandpa frequently took her and her siblings to the movies. Grandma would serve beans in metal pie plates under her table when they played cowboys. Donella's memories were of close family, good food, and laughter.

Donella would soon be set-up with a young man from Marion, Kan. His name was Victor Leon Lais. After dating for several months, Donella was crushed when Leon asked for his class ring, and she did not want to return it. Leon surprised Donella with a different ring when he asked her to marry him. They were married on May 10, 1959 at the Marion Christian Church and would spend 52 years together before Leon's passing in 2012. For their 50th wedding anniversary, Donella and Leon were able to spend time at Beaver Lake with their family, followed by a cruise with Donella's sister and her husband.

Together Donella and Leon had two daughters, DaLonna (Del) Schroeder, Hesston, and DaNaye (Ernie) Aragón, Newton. Their family would continue to grow with the birth of three granddaughters, Ashley (Garrett) Crider, Erin Schroeder, and Caitlin Bowyer. In 2011, Bently Michael Crider was welcomed into the family as the first great grandchild. In 2013, Donella again became a great-grandmother with the births of twins Corbin Leon Crider and Chloe Leann Crider. These three great grandchildren brought hours of delight to Donella.

The Lais family moved to Newton in 1963, buying their current home in 1965. Donella would work at a part-time job in the early years but spent most of her time at home raising her children. When the Newton School District implemented a hot lunch program, Donella worked over the lunch hour serving meals to students, including 7th grader DaLonna, at Chisholm Middle School. The next year, 1973, Donella would move to the high school baking department where she made countless buns and cinnamon rolls until her retirement. Probably her favorite job was running the cash register for students at lunchtime. Donella again became a cheerleader with her support of the students who passed through her line. She was known to decorate her register, dress up for games, and even wear costumes and serve treats for holidays.

Donella found a true passion when she became a troop leader for Girl Scout Troop 42. One Christmas, Leon surprised her with a lifetime membership. Donella would remain an active Girl Scout for 40 years as a leader and a camper to as many as three generations of girls. This is where she developed her love for camping and many a camper had a hearty and flavorful meal from a charcoaled Dutch oven. Most recently, Donella organized her Angel Camp at Harvey County East Lake and looked forward to spending the week with her girls, planning meals, boating, crafts, and service projects. Leon supported Donella and spent many summers at Girl Scout camp himself.

Donella's camp name was Ladybug. It is apparent by her bountiful collection of ladybugs from Girl Scouts, family and friends that Donella was well-loved. In fact, between the high school and Girl Scouts, she knew so many people that her family teased her that it took hours to pick up a single loaf of bread at the grocery store. Donella was interested in everyone and knew no strangers.

Donella decorated cakes for family events. What began as a hobby, soon became a small business of its own. Donella would make wedding cakes, graduation cakes, shower cakes, anniversary cakes and birthday cakes for many families. Since she knew each person she was making a cake for, there was a lot of love added to her baking and decorating. It became a tradition for Donella to make special birthday cakes for her three granddaughters and she creatively made many a Disney character, dinosaur, swimming pool, and more.

After the loss of Leon, Donella found a place at Salem United Methodist Church. She quickly became a volunteer at the church wherever help was needed in the church and even spent time working at the homeless shelter. The church became another family to Donella and she felt very safe. She eagerly began exploring her own faith journey and celebrated her 75th birthday by being baptized at Harvey County East Lake. Her faith was evident that day when she joyfully chose to be submerged, overcoming a lifelong fear of water.

In March 2015, Donella took a fall and broke her right shoulder. The shoulder replacement surgery was a success but doctors did not like the sound of her lower intestine. Later that week, Donella would suffer extreme pain and would be rushed to surgery. She would spend the next several months trying to recover from that surgery and complications. In July and August, she was able to be in her home with health care visits. By September, an infection reoccurred and Donella was once again in the hospital for several weeks. On November 10, weak and having lost weight, Donella was able to move to Kidron Bethel in North Newton where she would begin physical therapy in preparation for returning to her home. These would be the happiest two weeks of her life since her fall in March. The stay was all the more pleasant when many of Kidron's staff had been former Girl Scouts and called her Ladybug and remembered camping stories.

On November 23, Donella once again encountered pain and would reenter the hospital. After so many months, her body was not able to withstand additional surgery and Donella was called to heaven on November 25 in the presence of loved ones and her pastor who was praying with her as she drew her last breath.

Donella had an infectious laugh, a love for people, silly songs, and her family. She will be missed.

Visitation at Salem United Methodist Church in Newton on Thursday, December 3

from 4 to 8pm with family being present from 6 to 8pm. Funeral service at Salem United Methodist Church in Newton on Friday, December 4th at 1pm. Burial following at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Peabody. Memorials to Ronald McDonald House and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.