Donna Eakins

Donna Kay Eakins, 60, of Cape Girardeau went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 28, 2010, after a courageous five-year battle with kidney cancer. She was most recently a patient at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Dec. 8, 1949, in Crump, daughter of the late Lender Washington Stovall and Thelma Estelle Greenlee Stovall. She and Carl L. Eakins were married July 6, 1968, in Crump. He survives.

She graduated from Delta High School in 1967. Her work history included Seabaugh's Shoe Store, Umco Corporation, Ralph Edwards Sportswear, Missouri Crippled Children Service, a lawyer's office in Columbus, Ga., and medical secretary at Saint Francis Medical Center for more than 19 years. She later attended Southeast Missouri State University where she received a bachelor's degree in social work in 2000. She then worked as a social worker for the Missouri Division of Senior Services in Cape Girardeau County.

Donna was an avid gardener and loved her flowers. She enjoyed family times with her children, granddaughter, brothers, sisters and friends. Donna was also involved in various organizations over the years, including Cape County Women of Law Enforcement, Girl Scouts, American Red Cross and Southeast Hospice.

She was a former member of Crump Assembly of God Church where she held several positions, including Christ Ambassador leader, Sunday school superintendent and Women's Ministries leader. She was most recently a member of Cape First Assembly of God Church in Cape Girardeau. She was actively involved in Cape First activities including NETS ministry, Women's Ministries leader and nursing home ministry.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Loving survivors include her husband, Carl L. Eakins of Cape Girardeau; a son, Ronald Eakins of Tilsit; daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Bryan Copeland; and one precious granddaughter, Allison Copeland, all of Lewisville, Texas. Left to cherish her memory are six older siblings, Betty Ford of Cape Girardeau, Della (Tutsie) and Jim McLain of Jackson, Jerry Stovall and Glenn Stovall of Crump, Mary and J.D. Smith of Advance, Mo., and Earl Gene Stovall of Cape Girardeau.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau and after 9 a.m. Tuesday at Cape First Assembly of God Church in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Cape First Church in Cape Girardeau, with the Revs. Gary Brothers and J.D. Smith officiating. Burial will be in McGuire Cemetery near Burfordville. Donna and Carl's families have been devoted caretakers of the cemetery for many years, where Donna served as president of the McGuire Cemetery Association.

Pallbearers will be David Crader, Dennis Coomer, Gilbert Wooldridge, Steve Strong, Mike Wilson and Charles Brawley. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Cape Girardeau Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Cape First or McGuire Cemetery Fund.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.