Donna Tackman, 89, passed away Oct. 21.

She was born May 1, 1928, to Forrest Carey and Nellie Marie Moore. Her ancestors were the Smyth family who homesteaded Happy Valley and Diamond at the base of Steens Mountain in 1859.

Donna spent most of her life in Harney County. She rode her horse to the Diamond school. She was a resident in the girls dorm at Crane High School. Most of her career as an LPN was spent at Harney County Hospital.

She married William A. Winn in Diamond, and to this union, five children were born: Marie Alene, LaNeva (Larry) Gilliam, Judy (Tim) Erwin, Bill (Judy) Winn, and Sherri (Rene) Scoresby.

She has 10 grandchildren who will remember her for fishing trips, driving lessons, and green Jell-O salad with lima beans (?). They will also remember how she was always willing to help them out financially, with a place to stay, or whatever else they may have needed.

Her 30 great-grandchildren will have memories of candy, Legos, stories, and Daisy the dog. Three of her great-granddaughters were able to care for her this past summer, and she so loved having them with her.

Donna’s many friends talk fondly of her work ethic and her ability to “just get it done.” She was a loyal friend, and spent her last weeks sharing a room with the same “girl” she roomed with at Crane all those years ago.

Donna married Pat Tackman in 1968. Some of the best times of her life were camping up in the woods with Pat during the summers. They both loved the stillness and beauty of the forest. Donna loved wild flowers and was always trying to teach her grandchildren the names of all of them.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hines.

She will be interred at Burns Cemetery beside her daughter, Marie Alene, who died of polio at age 6.

She was also preceded in death by her husband, Pat; brother, Jimmy; and grandson, Jay Winn.

She is survived by all her other children, their spouses and children. Donna loved her family, and was incredibly proud of her pioneer heritage. She spent years doing genealogy and spent hours sharing family stories with her loved ones.

Donna was instrumental in bringing Home Health and Hospice to Harney County. They were wonderful help with her, and the family would like donations in her name to go there.