Faye LaDonne “Donnie” (Melton) Leyerle, 96

November 22, 2018

Faye LaDonne “Donnie” (Melton) Leyerle of Masonic Village, Elizabethtown entered into eternal rest Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018 (Thanksgiving) in Masonic Village Healthcare Center. Calling out to her mother in heaven, she was in the arms of her devoted daughter, Renee, as her spirit ascended into heaven. A sudden, unexpected illness took her life. She was a feisty, strong-willed, unforgettable, attractive 96 year old.
Born in her grandfather Tom Lee’s home in Centralia, IL, she was the eldest of five children of Claude O. & Faye (Henson) Melton. A lifelong Centralia resident, she spent the remaining ten years of her life in PA (five years in the home of daughter Renee & Duane Hobbs, & five years as a resident at Masonic Village).
LaDonne was preceded in death by her husbands: Kenneth Jolliff, Clarence J. Martin & Wendell Leyerle, her parents, her brothers William (Bill) Melton & Robert (Bob) Melton, & sisters Juanita Duff & Beverly Jeffries.
Children left to cherish her memory: Renee (Martin) Hobbs husband Duane of Lancaster, PA, Vicki (Martin) Clifton of Centralia, IL & Wesley E. Martin wife Mary of Centralia, IL.
Left to mourn her passing are her grandchildren: Jonathan Hobbs wife Kim of Laurel, MD, Jarred Hobbs wife Kim of Portland, OR, Angela, Nathan, Tyson & Jacob Hodges of Centralia, IL, plus several great-grandchildren. Other special relatives: her aunt, Bonnie Gibson of Flower Mound, TX, nephew David Harrison wife Barb of Portland, OR, niece Carol Crenshaw husband Tom of Centralia, Linda Thorpe husband Terry of Franktown, CO & special friends Anthony & Julie Dephue of Boise, ID.
Hobbies & traits: loved gardening & working in her yard (had a green thumb); competitive card player; artist (drawing & oil paintings); loved taking photographs; making floral arrangements; had wonderful penmanship; avid reader; great dancer; & loved birds & could attract them. She was always stylish & stately in her manner & dress; & was very talented with make-up and hair styling. To enhance her appearance, “White Diamonds” perfume was the finishing touch. She was a good cook & was famous for her fudge & potato salad. She loved her mother’s coconut cream pie.
At Masonic Village she was blessed with a caring staff & special residents who became an extension of her family. Special friends: Flossie McKnight, Jean Holmquist, & Donna Wolf. Exceptional staff who gave her dignity, respect & help: Violet Long, Jordan Scully, Cathy Smith, Lesa Lowe, Terry Ortiz, Lynn Yost & Elizabeth Davis.
Services for LaDonne will be held Saturday, December 1st, at 11:00 a.m. at the Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home Chapel, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA, with the Rev. William Spiegelhalder officiating. Interment will follow at Manheim Fairview Cemetery, Manheim, PA. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until the service on Saturday at the funeral home.
LaDonne was a member of The First United Presbyterian Church serving as a Deacon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her honor there: The First United Presbyterian Church library, 102 South Hickory St., Centralia, IL 62801.