Donna Kay (Gardiner) Nuse

NUSE, Donna Kay, age 82, of Yukon, Oklahoma went to be with her Lord on January 1, 2021, after an illness at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon.  She was born on January 27, 1938 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Tommie Luther and Cloia Hazel (Reno) Gardiner.  In her youth she participated in roller skate competitions with her mother, and performed in a number of piano recitals.  Donna attended Classen High School in Oklahoma City, worked in her family donut & coffee shop, and then worked as a meat wrapper for Safeway Stores.  She married Buddy Ray Nusz (Nuse) in Wheeler, Texas on May 15, 1961, then lived for some years in Tulsa and Amarillo, Texas before settling in Yukon in 1969.  Donna and her husband were avid and competitive golfers, playing in many coed tournaments together.  Donna was initiated on Nov 21, 1977 into the Order of the Eastern Star, Yukon Chapter #245, and is considered a 44 year member.  She also was a Mother Advisor to the Rainbow Girls, helping young ladies learn the value of charity and service to others.  In 1981 she served as Worthy Matron/Lea Lambs. Also in 1981, 82 and 2010, she served as Worthy Matron for Chapter #245.  From 2006-2012, Donna dualled with Minco Chapter #395.  In 2007 she served as District Deputy.  And, in 2010 Donna served as Grand Chaplain for Leatrice Massey & Mike Rapp (the Turtle Tribe).  During her 44 year membership, Donna was appointed Star Point Ruth, and proudly served as Chaplain for Chapter #245.  Donna loved her Eastern Star Family.  She enjoyed meeting new people from different chapters,  sharing smiles & memories of her many travels, and took great pride in both her memory and floor work.  Her hobbies and talents included macrame, canvas painting, knitting, ceramics, crochet, and sewing/embroidery.  Donna loved to love on people, and was the glue that held her family together.  She would always be there to help anyone who was in need.  A great light has gone out on the world, and she will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her. 

Donna is survived by her husband of 59 years, Buddy of Yukon.  Children: Gene of Yukon; Michelle Ashley of Hinton; and Vania Tuesday Ruston of Yukon.  Grandchildren: Bobby Ashley; Blair (Marysa) Ashley Jr; and Haley Ruston.  Great-grandchildren: Darby Ashley; Blair Ashley III; Avery Ashley; and Ellison Wednesday Nusz.  Stepchildren: Sam (Terri) Nusz of El Reno; Kay (Jeff) McLearen of El Reno; and Donna (Bob) Ott of Okarche. Grandchildren: Annie (Derek) Pearson; Traci McLearen; and Laci (Brett) Caesar.  Great-grandchildren: Baylor and Tynlee Pearson.  Sister-in-law Jeanne (Grady) Hunter and nephew Michael (Dawn) Gardiner all of Corpus Christi, Texas.  Nephew John (Jerry) Gardiner of Dayton, Ohio as well as several cousins, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandchild Tony Clements; brothers Billie Van Gardiner and Duane Gardiner.

Graveside Services Geary Cemetery, Saturday, 10:00 am, January 16, 2021, Geary, OK 

Officiating: Rev. Charles King services entrusted to Turner Funeral Home, Geary, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to the family at turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com, turnerfh.net, or you can find us on facebook.com (Turner Funeral Homes).

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