Mary Donna

Mary Donna Key, 55, of Little Rock, daughter of Betty C. Key and the late Walter Donald Key, died June 15, 2010 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Mary was born July 29, 1954, in Forrest City, Arkansas. When young, she graduated from El Dorado High School, attended Kilgore Junior College, Henderson State University and Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. While attending college, Mary volunteered her time to entertain the elderly and disabled residents at a nursing home and earned extra income by giving lessons on her favorite Gibson guitar to classes at the YWCA. While attending Southern Arkansas University, she was a member of the Senior Concert Choir and the college swim team, participating in championship swim competitions. During that time serious health problems developed that ended further education and became more severe during the rest of her life. Mary was creative and artistic. Her life was enriched with many hours of joy and happiness by art work, poetry and music. She was an accomplished acoustic guitarist. Mary was a true Nature Lover. She found fossils fascinating and collected many of them; also, rocks that are scattered throughout her home. She enjoyed and appreciated many wonders, found only in Nature, of every size, shape and color. Mary told her mother that if she died before her, she wanted to leave her a special gift and to treasure it. That gift was four large trunks that contain her paintings and several volumes of poems, music and other compositions, all done during her lifetime. Mary treasured her relatives and friends. As she matured in life, her Faith and love of God increased and many loving prayers were offered to God. Remembered will be her smile, caring and compassionate nature, mischievous sense of humor and a zestful optimism in life. Survivors include her mother, of Little Rock; sister, Catherine Marie Jarmer and husband Dr. Scott Jarmer, niece, Lauren Elizabeth Jarmer, of Wichita, Kansas; aunts, Gracie Lee Ross, of Springdale and Georgia Elizabeth Cosper and husband, Eugene Cosper (Mary’s special “Uncle Gene”), of Bella Vista; cousins, Sandi Houston, Teresa French, Jack Cosper (wife Deborah), Kelley Clark (husband Mark). Heartfelt gratitude is expressed to Dr. Susan Santacruz and R.N.’s Deborah Wright and Danny Burgin of Arkansas Hospice for their tender and loving care of Mary during her struggle with cancer; and to many who cared about Mary; for their prayers, cards, calls, gifts and Masses offered on her behalf. Mary’s stated wish was a graveside service. There will be no visitation and a private service will be held at a later date at Calvary Cemetery in Little Rock, with Father Frank Dupreez officiating. In lieu of flowers, Mary’s mother suggests that those wishing to honor her memory could make a donation in her name to Arkansas Hospice Home Based Program, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116, St. Joseph’s Indian School, Chamberlain, SD 57326 or St. Patrick Catholic Church, 211 W. 19th Street, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114. Arrangements by North Little Rock Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 1921 Main St., 758-1170. Online obituary and guest registry at www.nlrfh.com.

Mary Donna

June 15, 1955 - June 15, 2010