Donna Kay Dodson

Donna Kay Dodson (Kearney) made her peaceful transition on July 23, 2024 at 3:27 pm. Donna was 76 years old. She was surrounded in love by her daughter, granddaughter, and sister at the time of her passing.

Donna was born in Mattoon, IL on Feb. 22, 1948. She graduated from Mattoon High School in 1966. Her first professional job was working as a dietician at the Mattoon Hospital. She then found her true professional calling when she began working as a debt collector. In 1984, she bought The Credit Bureau of Coles County which she eventually sold. In 1995, she once again expressed her entrepreneurial spirit and opened New Age Recovery which she owned until she retired in 2010. Donna was most proud of her work ethic, her integrity and how she treated each person who owed a debt with the upmost respect.

If you knew Donna, then you must know of her love for nature, animals, and all things Native American. She was able to realize her life long dream of owning land in the Charleston area out in the country. This was where she taught her granddaughter, Zoe, how to identify birds, how to respect nature and where so many good memories were made. Donna was the best grandmother to Zoe and the one role she was most proud of.

Donna was a fierce advocate and protector of animals. Throughout her life she cherished and loved these fur babies: Cocoa, Daphne, Prissy, Bridgette, George (and all their chubby, fluffy babies), Damon, Neuman Eugine, Yunior, Hannah, Aniwaya Spirit, Elza Rose, Inga, Ava, Fritz Mittenz, Tanner, and her beloved, Oni. You can just feel her joy knowing that she is reunited with all her loves.

A few talents that Donna kept mostly hidden was her lovely poetry writing and her beautiful tole paintings. She loved off beat humor with David Bowie being one of her favorite musicians. She was obsessed with true crime stories and loved to play bingo. She loved crossword puzzles. Donna was the one who would always win in Trivial Pursuit but truly never fully acknowledged her own gifts.

While most knew Donna to be very private and more of a loner, she truly cared for and valued her friendships she made throughout her life. She always fought for the underdog and underprivileged.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Dale & Edna Kearney and her husband, Brent Dodson.

Donna is survived by her daughter, Tonya M. Lawyer, her granddaughter, Zoe R. Lawyer, her sister, Jeanne Richards, her nieces, and their families: Kelly and Jamie, her nephews, and their families: Chris and Kyle.

Staying true to her nature, Donna requested no official services. She will be cremated, and her ashes will be laid to rest in the Dodge Grove Cemetery in Mattoon, where her parents and husband are also buried.

If you would like a tangible way to honor Donna, she requested a donation be made to your favorite animal rescue group or local animal shelter. Or, better yet, adopt an animal in her honor.

There is no death, only a change of worlds: Chief Seattle 1864