Donna Vee Sheldon's Obituary
Donna Vee Sheldon, 78, of Pittsburg, KS, passed away February 11, 2025 at Via Christi Village with family at her side. Donna was born September 30, 1946 in Ogden, UT to Vernon Royal Dillon and Margaret Jane (Brown) Dillon. Shortly thereafter, the Dillons moved back to Kansas, settling in the Oakland neighborhood of Topeka, KS. Donna attended Lundgren Elementary School and then later attended Topeka High School graduating in the class of 1964.
Donna played violin in orchestra and participated in the stage crews for various theater productions while attending THS. She was an avid reader at an early age, often getting caught reading a book under the covers with a flashlight when she should have been sleeping. After graduation from THS, she attended Washburn University for a year before transferring to Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, KS majoring in English. She married David Amick June 3, 1967 and moved back to Topeka where she was a stay at home mom for their two sons Monty and Michael. In 1974 the family moved to the Amick family farm near the small town of Cunningham, KS to assume the operation of the farm. Although raised a “city girl”,
Donna enjoyed the farm lifestyle particularly raising sheep and goats. She was instrumental in the creation of a small Public Library in Cunningham in an unused storefront on Main Street. While in Cunningham, their daughter Maggie was born. Donna and David later divorced and Donna resumed her education at Pratt Community Junior College, graduating in 1982 with an Associate of Science degree with honors. After graduating from PCJC, she and the children moved to Pittsburg, KS so she could attend PSU to further her education. On May 12, 1984, Donna and Lance Sheldon were married in Timmons Chapel on the PSU campus and began their 40 year love story. A year later, Donna graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree from PSU with a major in Biology. After graduation, Donna and Lance decided to remain in Pittsburg in order to raise the children in a smaller city.
Over the next 25 years Donna worked a variety of jobs, such as: the Follett Bookstore at PSU, Medical Tech at Nevada City Hospital and Mount Carmel Hospital, secretary at SEK Counseling Center and the Newman Center, secretary for two American Family Insurance agents, SRS Program Support Worker, Welfare to Work case manager for KDHR, case manager for Training Plus, secretary for KETCH (Kansas Elks Training Center for Handicapped), Mentor for Mentoring Works, SEKAAA (Welfare to work), owner/business administrator for a non-profit employment service called GOALS Inc., and receptionist for Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Her most rewarding work was helping her good friend and colleague John McLuckie teach parenting classes through the non-profit PACE Inc. Donna was an accomplished cook. Making her TV Mix and sharing it with friends and family became a holiday tradition. She loved decorating her house for all the holidays and enjoyed applying her own artificial fingernails and polish. She appreciated the four seasons but particularly enjoyed autumn. Donna enjoyed flowers of all kinds and watching her favorite birds, cardinals, play outside the dining room windows. Her favorite color was purple, specifically lavender. She loved animals and had many cats and dogs over her lifetime, all rescues or shelter pets. She continued to be an avid reader and was an early adopter of the Kindle E-reader. Donna found a creative outlet in desktop publishing where she printed custom greeting cards for family and friends and business cards and address labels for clients under the name: “Devious Designs”.
Donna designed the logo that is still used by the Paw Prints on the Heartland non-profit organization. But more than anything, she enjoyed being a grandma. Donna was known for her pretty smile and eyes and connecting with those she met. Adjectives that describe Donna: intelligent, funny, curious, loving, classy and sassy. Donna is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 40 years, Lance Sheldon; son Michael Amick and his sons Finley and Sawyer Amick, daughter Maggie Amick and her children Connar, Cade, and Lola Southard. Preceding her in death was son Monty Amick survived by his wife Megan and children Kathryn Jacobson (Amick) and Oli (Morgan) Amick. Donna is survived by the father of her children, David Amick. Donna was preceded in death by her parents Vernon and Margaret Dillon.
Memorial services will be 3 pm Saturday March 8, 2025 at Timmons Chapel on the PSU campus. Chaplin Derek officiating. Family will receive friends from 2 to 3 at Timmons chapel prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks expressions of sympathy to be in the form of memorials to the Southeast Kansas Humane Society.
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