Obituary for Donna Simer

Donna Lou Simer

(March 5, 1933 – December 3, 2016)

Outspoken, ornery, fun, musical, prankster, intelligent, faithful, compassionate, loving, competitive…

These words are only a sampling of those used to describe the beautiful soul of Donna Lou Simer. This widow, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother danced into heaven early Saturday morning, December 3, 2016, surrounded by family and dear friends. Mom raised us and her grandchildren to enjoy a love for words, music, and reading. Children’s songs that will forever remind us of our mom/grandma include, You Are My Sunshine, Pony Boy, ‘A’ You’re Adorable, Tell Me a Story, Good Morning, Good Morning, and many others. The Berenstain Bears and Dr. Seuss books were also favorites for us as kids. She would also regularly “torture” us with words she learned daily through studying the dictionary or working crossword puzzles until we learned the word and improved our vocabulary. Mom lived for her grandchildren and was always ready with a sewing or craft project, song, book, or a cuddle and back scratch, to make the day better.

Friends who want to pay their respects can sign a memory book for the family at Roberts and Sons Funeral Home through Saturday, December 10th, when daughters, son-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandson will be present from 1-3 p.m. At Donna’s request, the family will hold a private celebration of her life at a later date.

Donna Lou Dyrhovd was born in Osage, Iowa, on March 5, 1933, to Lulu Belle and Casper Dyrhovd. She and her parents moved to Leon, Iowa, where Donna grew up and graduated high school. She was in the Leon High School band as a drummer and had a beautiful singing voice. Donna met the love of her life, William “Bill” Simer in Leon, and they were married on June 3, 1951. The couple had three children, all girls: Vikki, Toni, and Michaeleen. Donna was a homemaker and spent her time raising three girls and moving with her husband who traveled for work. The family eventually settled in Blackwell, OK, in 1972, where they remained.

Donna was preceded in death by two sisters, Delma Fern Stage and Carol Musselwhite; brother, Johnny Daugs; father, Casper Dyrhovd; mother, LuLu Belle Hamilton; husband, William “Bill” Keith Simer; and great-grandson, William “Will” Keith Choate.

Survivors include two sisters, Shirley Beeler (fellow prankster) and Sharon Pace, of Des Moines, Iowa; three daughters, Vikki Simer of Oklahoma City, Toni Jeffries of Lamont, and Michaeleen Paige and husband Derry of Blackwell; granddaughter, Hunter, and grandson, Axel, of Blackwell; granddaughter, Colby Choate and great grandson, Lyndell Don, of Hennessey; and granddaughter, Chi Anne Jeffries and wife, Cheredan Vap of Tonkawa, her beloved Corgi of Lamont, Willie, and many nieces and nephews.

Donna Simer was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandma, great grandma, and friend. Her loving nature did not thwart her competitive nature from challenging anyone willing to engage her playing her favorite card game of Peanut (especially with long-time friends Mary Joan and Ernie) cribbage, or any board game. She also faithfully attended bridge club with several close friends in Blackwell. She was also an avid prankster. For instance, she hid a rubber spider in her gorgeous thick hair for her hairdresser to find and borrowed a stuffed rattlesnake to hide in a closet to scare the carpenter working on their remodel.

You made us happy when skies were grey. Love you forever.

“Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Away”