July 11, 1926– June 26, 2023
Donne Juinelle Loftiss, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her Washita County home on June 26, 2023, at the age of 96. She leaves behind a legacy of love, humor, and devotion to family.
Born to Thomas Cash, a farmer and bookkeeper for the Taylor CO-OP, and Carryee Irene McDonald on July 11, 1926, Donne was the second youngest of five children and grew up, along with her brothers, Joe, Doug, John and Jim, in the rural Highway Community, near Carter.
Donne married Frank Loftiss on April 20, 1947. They remained together for the next 76 years, raising two children, Jana Beth and Frank Jeffery.
Donne was an avid vegetable canner, quilt maker and gardener. She loved music, especially Gospel and was a legendarily uncritical dessert enthusiast. She kept dogs and cats and adopted strays. She was both frugal and generous. When she was in high-school, she drove the school bus for Highway school, near Carter Oklahoma because all the men had gone to fight in World War II.
Donne’s life exemplified the power and the significance of a Christian family. Her caring nature influenced all those who knew her, and her presence radiated warmth and kindness. She was the kind of mother who sewed her children’s clothes herself and the kind of grandmother who always had fresh cookies.
She is survived by her husband, Frank, her son, Jeff and his wife, Elaine, her son-in-law Fred Broach and her younger brother, Jim. She also leaves behind four grandchildren Nathan Loftiss and wife Keena, Luke Loftiss and wife Migmar, Jacob Loftiss and wife, Regina, Alex Broach and wife Bethany, and three great-grandchildren, Kambrie and Maralea Loftiss and Hana Broach with more on the way. She was preceded in death by daughter, Jana Broach and grandson, Douglas Broach.
While we mourn her loss, we also celebrate the life she lived and the profound impact she had on all who knew her. Donne’s spirit lives on through the lives she touched and the memories we all will forever hold dear. She will be deeply missed and her memory forever etched in our hearts, a constant reminder of the enduring power of love and family.
A funeral service to honor and celebrate Donne’s life will be held July 8th at 10:30 AM at Dill City Church of Christ where she was a member.