Donna Aday Darr
Jul 13, 1944 - Apr 16th, 2024- Birth Date: Jul 13, 1944
- Death Date: Apr 16, 2024
- Funeral Date: Apr 23, 2024, 11:00 am
- Location: Ruebel Funeral Home
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Biography: DONNA ADAY DARR, 79, of Little Rock, passed away on Monday, April 16, after suffering a fall at home. She was the oldest of three children born to Hubert Leon Aday and Agnes Brizzolara Aday.
Donna graduated from Mount St. Mary Academy in 1962 and then attended Little Rock University (now UALR). It was there that she met her husband, Major Charles Darr, USAF. They were married for six years and were expecting their only child when he was killed in action during the Vietnam War.
Donna went on to work in the insurance industry for over 50 years, retiring from Meadors, Adams and Lee. Donna was happiest when she was spending time with her daughter and three grandchildren, whom she adored. She also loved cooking in the kitchen and planning gatherings for family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her daughter, Allison Darr Carroll; sister Dianne Aday, of Dallas, TX; brother, Wade Aday (Kathy): grandchildren, Jack, Charlie and Catie Carroll; and nephews, David (Ann) and Steve (Laura) Aday.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, with Memorial service following at 11:00 at Ruebel Funeral Home. A private burial for the family will be held at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Visit RuebelFuneralHome.com for online obituary and guestbook.
Condolences(11)
Clare Lauer
#11
Apr 22nd, 2024 8:45 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am so sorry for your loss.
Peggy Mathews Shoptaw
#10
Apr 22nd, 2024 9:54 am
Donna Darr - What a lovely, gracious, immaculately dressed, kind, and smart businesswoman. I knew Donna because my boss had all his insurance with Meadors, Adams and Lee. For us, Donna was the voice and final word with Meadors, Adams and Lee and she represented the company extremely well.
The way life works out is difficult to explain and I cannot imagine her grief of losing her husband while expecting their first child. She certainly lived a life that honored her husband being a wonderful mother and friend to many. Allison, I am so sorry you have to say goodbye to the physical presence of your sweet mother. No one on earth loves us like our mothers. I hope you find many ways to keep her memory alive and I pray that you see God's provisions in many unexpected ways.
The way life works out is difficult to explain and I cannot imagine her grief of losing her husband while expecting their first child. She certainly lived a life that honored her husband being a wonderful mother and friend to many. Allison, I am so sorry you have to say goodbye to the physical presence of your sweet mother. No one on earth loves us like our mothers. I hope you find many ways to keep her memory alive and I pray that you see God's provisions in many unexpected ways.
Teresa Todd
#9
Apr 22nd, 2024 8:20 am
I worked with Donna for ten years at Meadors Adams & Lee and always enjoyed her fun spirit, hearing how proud she was of her family and making me laugh daily as I walked by her office to see so many sticky notes & piles of printed paper. She had her own way to doing things and did a great job. Very classy lady to say the least and a wonderful cook. I am very saddened to hear about her passing and she will truly be missed. Many prayers to her family during this difficult time.
Lara and Trey Garmon
#8
Apr 21st, 2024 5:25 pm
We send our heartfelt condolences and love to Allison, Jack,
Charlie and Catie. All of you are in our prayers at such a difficult time.
Trey, Lara, Abbie, Will and Drew Garmon
Charlie and Catie. All of you are in our prayers at such a difficult time.
Trey, Lara, Abbie, Will and Drew Garmon
Cathy Magin callahan
#7
Apr 21st, 2024 4:55 pm
More like a sister to us like our Pat, our family is getting smaller. I sways thought of Donna as thefamily historian. She had. Great memory for little stories of our parents. I didn’t se her often but it was always the best when I could visit with her .
Janice Rogers Wilkerson
#6
Apr 21st, 2024 3:18 pm
Allison, so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom. Donna was always a sweet lady. I remember from when you & Kim were at Holy Souls together. You will be in our prayers at this time. Janice Rogers Wilkerson
Andrew Meadors
#5
Apr 20th, 2024 10:09 am
I had the privilege of working with Donna for many years at the insurance agency. She was always professional and classy. As I get older I look back and appreciate more those who helped me in my career. And she certainly did that. I kept in touch with her over the years , and I’m glad I did. My Dad thought the world of her. Rest in Peace Donna. Andrew Meadors.
Paula G Finefield
#4
Apr 19th, 2024 5:28 pm
I still cannot believe Donna is gone. Virtually all the things I was planning to say here, Diane has just said! I was one of those kids on a bike descending on Donna's house on Stonewall in our Holy Souls and early high school years. I best remember her mother's BBQ chicken, the secret ingredient in the delicious sauce being Coca-cola. I remember being shocked by that!
In later years, in the early 70's, Tony and I were living overseas, stationed off the coast of Italy in Sardinia, when Chuck's plane went missing in Vietnam. We were on an overnight ferry from Sardinia to Rome when I found out about it while reading a letter Donna had sent to me just after it had happened. Even though that was just over 50 years ago, I can still remember reading that letter like it was yesterday.
Those much more recent Christmas gatherings at her house on Hawthorne that Diane mentioned were always events Tony and I looked forward to when we were in Little Rock for the holidays.
She and I kept in touch with each other throughout the year, too, both through phone calls, and especially, with lengthy texts. She was the only one of my friends who could match me on those, and it was one of the reasons I never felt too far away from her. We wrote like we spoke. I will miss her very much. My heart will always be with Allison and her children.
In later years, in the early 70's, Tony and I were living overseas, stationed off the coast of Italy in Sardinia, when Chuck's plane went missing in Vietnam. We were on an overnight ferry from Sardinia to Rome when I found out about it while reading a letter Donna had sent to me just after it had happened. Even though that was just over 50 years ago, I can still remember reading that letter like it was yesterday.
Those much more recent Christmas gatherings at her house on Hawthorne that Diane mentioned were always events Tony and I looked forward to when we were in Little Rock for the holidays.
She and I kept in touch with each other throughout the year, too, both through phone calls, and especially, with lengthy texts. She was the only one of my friends who could match me on those, and it was one of the reasons I never felt too far away from her. We wrote like we spoke. I will miss her very much. My heart will always be with Allison and her children.
Diane Allen
#3
Apr 19th, 2024 6:59 am
Donna, along with a whole group of us, became friends in the fifties when we were students at Our Lady of the Holy Souls School. She has been a true friend — kind and loyal — for all these years. Whenever one of our now living-out-of-state classmates let her know they would be in town, she often organized a wonderful dinner in her charming home sometimes highlighted by D. J. Cia’s spaghetti from his family’s recipe and Donna’s homemade angel food cake with its incredibly delicious icing like Grandmother made.
When we were kids and old enough to roam the Heights on our bikes, a gang of us would show up at Donna’s house on Saturdays where her Mom would magically produce lunch enough for all - in my memory, it was usually fried bologna in barbecue sauce — real comfort food.
In our youth, Donna was quiet and attentive and observant, like she was watching the world and taking it all in before she decided what she wanted to say or how she wanted to act. She lived her life with dignity and love. Allison meant the world to her and the grandchildren became points of light and pride in Donna’s loving heart.
I am comforted by these warm memories of my friend, but I will miss knowing she is there in her loving home on Hawthorne, always willing to help a friend.
When we were kids and old enough to roam the Heights on our bikes, a gang of us would show up at Donna’s house on Saturdays where her Mom would magically produce lunch enough for all - in my memory, it was usually fried bologna in barbecue sauce — real comfort food.
In our youth, Donna was quiet and attentive and observant, like she was watching the world and taking it all in before she decided what she wanted to say or how she wanted to act. She lived her life with dignity and love. Allison meant the world to her and the grandchildren became points of light and pride in Donna’s loving heart.
I am comforted by these warm memories of my friend, but I will miss knowing she is there in her loving home on Hawthorne, always willing to help a friend.
Mary Martin Bentley
#2
Apr 18th, 2024 5:08 pm
Donna was a dear MSM ‘62 classmate. My deepest sympathy to Allison and her family at this sad time . You will be in my prayers
Missy Maginn Vancil
#1
Apr 18th, 2024 12:24 pm
I am so sorry for the loss of one of the great icons of our family.
Donna was so loving with such a contagious laugh. I will always remember that smile and laughter and the smells of her wonderful cooking!
Donna was so loving with such a contagious laugh. I will always remember that smile and laughter and the smells of her wonderful cooking!