Donna L. (Porter) Stockley

Donna Lea Porter Stockley, born September 25, 1931 to Joe Porter and Cleo Wheaton Porter in Indianola, Iowa. She was baptized by emersion at 12 years old at First Christian Church in Knoxville, Iowa. Donna lived in Dallas, Iowa and went to Dallas Consolidated School from 1st to 5th grade. As part of the family phone business, her father and grandfather operated a telephone switchboard in their home. Donna would assist with the switchboard growing up. From 6th to 12th grade, Donna attended the Knoxville Public School in Knoxville, Iowa. While in high school she took penmanship, shorthand, and typing. She played the French horn in marching and concert band and loved to swim and roller skate.
Eventually the Porter family would open their own mom and pop grocery store in part of their home in Knoxville. Donna played a role in helping run the store with her mother and older sisters. Donna was active in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls - created for Masonic daughters beginning at age 11 through 18. Once 18, Donna joined the Order of the Eastern Star. In 1949, Donna graduated from the Felt and Terrant Comptometer School in Des Moines, Iowa and began working for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Disbursements in her first job after high school. Living in Des Moines, Donna met a college boy from Ames, Iowa at a local dance. On August 10, 1952 at 20 years old, Donna Lea Stockley married Kenneth L. Stockley at the Methodist Church in Knoxville, Iowa. Kenneth and Donna moved to San Antonio, Texas where Kenneth was stationed in Fort Sam Huston and Donna began working at the Southern Bell Telephone Company. After the service, Donna worked for the Standard Oil Company in Peoria, Illinois while Kenneth worked for the Extension Service in his first job out of the service. In 1954, Kenneth and Donna moved to the Frank Wright Farm in Earlville, Illinois to farm and raise a family. Kenneth and Donna would raise their children here and live on this farm for 63 years. While raising a family, Donna was a part of many community events and clubs, including the PTA, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, Mother Daughter Banquets, Church Bazars, 4-H Club meetings, and entertaining with the Card Club. In 1954, Donna would join the Earlville United Methodist Church and the Dorcas Circle of the Women’s Society. Eventually, she would take on the responsibilities of membership secretary for the church, a position she held for many years. As a city girl, Donna had to learn the ropes of being a farmer’s wife. She learned the art of baking pies, preparing vegetables, cooking for a crew of men, and feeding a hungry group of farmers at noon. Donna loved to cook Christmas Rolls and gave them away to everyone she knew at Christmas time. She also loved to garden. She would plan and tend to garden chores every summer. Canning vegetables and making pickles and strawberry jelly were some of her favorites. Some of Donnas most treasured farm friends were the farm cats and their kittens. Their ability to catch the mice she hated made the cats her favorite. On May 20, 1955, Donna gave birth to her and Kenneth’s first child, Douglas L. Stockley. And on September 13, 1957, they had their second child, Debra J. Stockley. Donna loved being a homemaker and raising her children. In 1970, Donna was a Census Enumerator for the Earlville area. In 1971, she worked at Marathon Electric Manufacturing Company as a Production Clerk in Earlville, Illinois. For many years after her children were grown, Donna worked at dress shops. Donna was creative and loved to put together beautiful outfits for people at the Tree Trunk House and then the Heinrich Shop. Donna and Kenneth found new adventures as the kids grew up and started lives of their own. Donna enjoyed golf and playing in a woman’s league. She was also a collector of Beanie Babies and Precious Moments. Both Kenneth and Donna took dance lessons and enjoyed getting together with their friends at the Harding Community Center for Dances. As their children grew and had families of their own, Donna and Kenneth became active and doting grandparents and then even great grandparents. Donna and Kenneth delighted in cheering on their grandchildren. Donna was Kenneth’s number one supporter when it came to politics, and she would often accompany him to evening meetings, parades, and political events. In large part, Donna lived her life through Kenneth. Even now, Donna chose to live alongside him, never wanting to be too far from him. Donna is survived by her son Douglas L. Stockley (Julie Anderson) of Earlville, Illinois and Debra Chatman of Yorkville, Illinois, two grandchildren, Christi Chatman, and Ryan (Jamie) Chatman, two great Grandchildren, Sidney and Ollie Chatman, Julie’s children Killian and Madeleine Anderson and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, parents, two sisters, Joella Snook and Opal Oaks, one brother Larry Porter, and one son-in-law, Sidney Chatman. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Sunday, January 9th, 2022, at Earlville United Methodist Church, 313 Stilson Street in Earlville, IL with Pastor Sandy Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Precinct Cemetery in rural Earlville. Visitation will be from Noon - 1PM preceding the funeral. Memorials may be directed to Earlville United Methodist Church. For more information or to sign the online guest book, please go to www.eighnerfuneralhomes.com . Arrangements are entrusted to Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Earlville, IL. (815) 246-6491