Donna Lea (Miller) Livengood

Donna Lea (Miller) Livengood, 87, El Dorado Springs, passed away at Community Springs Healthcare Facility Sunday evening, Aug. 11, 2024. Donna was born March 12, 1937, the daughter of James Frederick Miller and Annetta Jane (Burrus) Miller. Donna graduated from El Dorado Springs High School with the class of 1955.

Donna married Benjamin Edward Livengood on March 20, 1956. Soon after their wedding, Bennie joined the Air Force. While he was in Japan, Donna worked at the Springfield Paper Company in Springfield, MO, which she enjoyed very much. After Bennie’s return to Richards Gebaur AFB in Kansas City, they moved back to El Dorado Springs where Donna worked for Tri County State Bank. They purchased El Dorado Lanes in 1967 and together they operated it for 50 years.

Donna became a certified bowling instructor in the 1970’s. Using her bowling expertise and her love of children she organized Saturday morning youth leagues as well as after school leagues. The success of these leagues led to a partnership with the El Dorado Springs High School for the Lifetime Sports curriculum. She had a positive impact on the lives of many young people in the community. She traveled with her bowling friends and family to many tournaments throughout the years.

She worked tirelessly beside her husband to provide wholesome entertainment for the community, while raising three kids and serving her church. Donna was saved as a young girl and was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church. In their retirement years, she and Bennie cleaned the church.

She had a great love of horses and flowers. She and Bennie enjoyed traveling to different states over the years. Many of those trips involved showing their three children, Sheryl, Brent and Brian, the world from the back of a station wagon. All three children were accomplished bowlers, of course.

Donna was known to be loving and accepting and welcomed many people into her heart and her home. In her later years she cared for Bennie in their home as illness stole the life they had shared together.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents; parents; brother, Eddie Miller; sister, Nancy Harris and husband, Bennie.

She is survived by her children, Sheryl Ann (Wayne) Rogers of El Dorado Springs, James Brent (Charlene) Livengood of Nevada, MO, and Brian Edward (Patti) Livengood of Nevada, MO; grandchildren: Nicky Livengood, Emily Jeffery (Chris), Autumn Livengood all of Nevada, MO, and Trevor Livengood of Dallas, TX; step-grandchildren: Teresa Lewark of Nevada, MO, Kristen McNeal of Joplin, MO , David Hill of Colorado and Joseph Rogers of Texas; sister, Mary Winn (David) of Washington State and numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Donna is also survived by her life-long friend, Joann Hubbard.

Services for Donna were held Saturday, Aug. 17, at Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home. DJ Ford was the Minister. Pallbearers were: Brent Livengood, Wayne Rogers, Terry Harris, Steve Harris, Fred Harris and Logen Oconnell. She was laid to rest in Clintonville Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left at www.blandhackleman.com.