Donnis Fay Venter, 82, was born Oct. 3, 1929, in rural Cedar County near Blackjack.

She married Albert Venter on Nov. 17, 1947, and lived with him on the family farm located on the Sac River for the remainder of her life.

She was a member of Flatrock Holiness Church, and later, Riverview Bible Church. She was an apt student of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Venter; sister Doris Pace and grandson, Andy Venter.

Donnis is survived by a daughter, Linda Birk, of El Dorado Springs; a son, Dr. John Venter, of Joplin; two grandchildren, Eric Venter of Neosho and Jill Venter of St. Paul, MN; two great-grandchildren, Erica and Eden Venter of Neosho; two brothers, Darl Mays of El Dorado Springs and Steve Mays of Nevada; and two sisters, Lillian Pace of El Dorado Springs and Arleta McCullough of Grandview.

Services were held Sunday, May 6, Sheldon Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs, with Rev. Brent Bland officiating.

The Greathouse family sang “Amazing Grace” and “Ivory Palaces.”

Casketbearers were Darren Mays, Landon Mays, Dirk Mays, Eric Venter, Doug Mays, Regar Hardin, Chance Mays and Reed Hardin. Interment was in the Venter Family Cemetery, El Dorado Springs, under direction of Sheldon Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs.