Donna Mae Slattery, 79, passed away on February 20, 2011 at the Shelby House Assisted Living Facility in Helena, MT from complications with Alzheimer\u2019s disease. She was born to Edith and Russell Saxbury on March 13th 1931 in Helena, MT. She attended school in Belt, and Choteau, MT. From there she went into nursing school, graduating from Columbus School of Nursing. <\/p>\n
During her nursing career, she met and married Zachary T. Slattery Jr. \u201cSlatts,\u201d an honored Great Falls Policeman. They were blessed with two children, Zach and Gayla Ann. Donna put her nursing career on hold to stay home and raise their children. Donna was very proud of all the accomplishments her husband Slatts did for the Great Falls Police Department, City of Great Falls and all the kids he tried to help and keep on the straight road. Donna was especially proud that her husband was one of first policemen in Montana chosen to attend the FBI Academy and then chosen to stand as Honorary Police Guard for President J.F. Kennedy when he visited Great Falls. It was after this visit that Donna had to go back into her nursing Career. Her beloved husband was diagnosed with M.S. and Donna took exceptional care of Slatts and never wavered for over 20 years at home, until he passed in 1983. <\/p>\n
Donna was a member and Deacon at Sunrise Presbyterian Church in Great Falls for many years. She enjoyed and lived her faith every day. She called them her second family. <\/p>\n
Her hobbies included her beautiful flowers gardens and vegetable garden. She also enjoyed sewing, crocheting and knitting. She was an awesome cook and loved gathering her family together to enjoy Sunday dinners as well as all holiday meals. There was always room at her able for one or two more. <\/p>\n
Donna\u2019s greatest joy and satisfaction was helping raise her two grandchildren Donna Diane and Zachary IV. There was nothing she would not do for them or show them how to do. The most important accomplishment for her was teaching them to believe in God and trust their faith in God. <\/p>\n
In 2002, Donna moved to Helena to be with her daughter Gayla. She met many new friends and enjoyed going on many trips. She found great joy in becoming and great-grandmother with Aidan and Meaghan Gordon. <\/p>\n
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edith and Russell Saxbury; her husband, Zachary T. Slattery Jr. \u201cSlatts;\u201d her oldest brother, Russell and wife, Carol. <\/p>\n
She is survived by her son, Zach Slattery and his wife, Diane Slattery; their son and daughter, Donna Diane Gordon and Zachary Slattery IV; two great-grandchildren, Aidan and Meaghan Gordon; her daughter, Gayla and husband Ken Lott; her brother, Robert Saxbury and wife Betty; nephews, Gary and John Saxbury; niece, Michelle Horn of Dear Lodge and long time family friend, Ron Fortin (Frenchy). <\/p>\n
Cremation has taken place and a private family service will follow. Memorials are suggested to the Shelby House Assisted Living Facility, P.O. Box 1167 East Helena, MT 59635. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.aswfuneralhome.com.<\/p>\n","photo":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/321276_profile_pic.jpg","youtube_video_url":"","family_email":"","family_first_name":"","family_last_name":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case\/774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/case"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}