Donna Lee Venters

Donna Lee Venters, 52, died peacefully in Ruston on April 8 after a 6 year battle with colon cancer.

A resident of Phoenix, Arizona, Donna was cared for by family in Ruston as her life ended.

Donna is survived by her parents, Dennis and Diana Venters, of Choudrant; maternal grandmother, Evelyn Garofalo of Shorewood, Illinois; brother Steven Venters (Veronica) of Farmerville; sister Laura McIntosh (Brian) of Decatur, Georgia; partner Thomas Dinsenbacher of Phoenix, Arizona; nieces and nephews, Hunter Venters (Marie) of Jackson, Mississippi, Wesley, Dixie, Millie and Zoey Venters of Farmerville, and Bryce and Lily McIntosh of Decatur, Georgia.

Donna was a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and the Vanderbilt University Nursing School.

She worked as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in VA hospitals in Nashville, Atlanta and Phoenix as well as Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

At the end of her life she was an Instructor of Nursing at Northern Arizona University. Her career was spent helping others. Donna loved hiking in the hills of Tennessee and the desert of Arizona.

She loved her rescue animals Lila, Callie, Obie, and Jasmine.

She was a fan of PBS, an avid reader and beautiful writer. Donna enjoyed reconnecting with family and friends on Facebook in recent years.

Donna was laid to rest in a natural burial in a flowered meadow at Larkspur Conservation at Taylor’s Hollow near Nashville, Tennessee, with family and friends celebrating her life.

Her family would like to thank the doctors and caregivers at MD Anderson in Houston and Ruston Regional Specialty Rehab Hospital, Kilpatrick Funeral Home for arranging the journey to Nashville, and those who made it possible for her to spend her final days in Ruston with family.

We thank St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Piney Hills Quilters for their prayers.

Donna supported Thistle Farms Women’s Recovery Center in Nashville, the ASPCA and other animal charities. Memorial donations in her name will continue that support.

Donna’s spirit lives on in those who knew and loved her.