HUFF, Donna

Black's Mortuary, Show Low, Arizona Donna Huff (October 21, 1923 - May 27, 2010) Donna Jean (Russell) Huff, age 86, passed away at Summit Healthcare in Show Low, AZ after a short illness surrounded by most of her family. Donna was born on October 21, 1923 in Bassett, Nebraska to Sylvia Bell (Taylor) Russell and Floyd Charles Russell. Donna was the middle daughter and was ever lively and nurturing. A Memorial will be held at Venture Inn in Show Low, AZ on Saturday, June 5, 2010 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Another Memorial will be later in November at Superstition Sunrise in Apache Junction, AZ where she has wintered for the past 27 years. Donna has had such an adventurous life with her husband, Robert William “Bob” Huff whom she met at the age of 19 during a square dance. Bob and Donna were married shortly thereafter, on Valentines Day in 1942 in Bliss, Idaho. Bob and Donna headed down to Pyote Army/Air Corps Base in Texas. They welcomed their son, Richard in January 1943. Their next great adventure led them to Alaska in January 1946 to start gold mining with Bob’s brother at the foot of Knik Glacier until 1948. Judi, their little girl, was born in February 1949 in Anchorage. They made the Anchorage area their permanent residence for over 50 years. Donna worked at Northern Commercial, the Girl Scouts of American (where she started both Camp Togowoods in Mat-Su Valley and the day camp Winding Trails in Anchorage at Russian Jack Park), National Bank of Alaska and lastly became a stock clerk for Anchorage School District. In 1966-67 she helped open A. J. Dimond High and then Mears Junior High the next year. She stayed happily with ASD until she retired in 1981. They were members of the Pioneers of Alaska, helped to start the First Presbyterian Church of Anchorage (on East G Street or what is now Gambell Street), and avid square dancers with the Dudes and Dames. Her adventures continued leading Donna and Bob to Salem, OR and Apache Junction, AZ as different residences. When Bob passed away in 1998 from cancer, Donna started the next decade of life as a spontaneous traveling woman. She would drive all over the country to visit friends and family. Donna was one of the most fiercely independent women after loosing her husband, if there was something she wanted to do, or do for you, there was no dissuading her. She loved her friends and family hard. She is survived by her sister Unalee Cloud and husband Erwin in Salem, OR; as well as her son Richard Huff and wife Carol of Alaska/Texas; Judi Cloninger and husband David of Dyersburg, TN; grandsons Robert Huff and girlfriend Justine Jensen of Tucson, AZ, David Cloninger (Trey) of Granby, CO, and Shelby Cloninger of Granby, CO; granddaughter Danielle Mesloh and husband Sean of North Pole, AK; and great grandchildren; Cassidy Elizabeth Cloninger of Dyersburg, TN and Gabriel, Luke, and Emma Mesloh of North Pole, AK; as well as many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 56 years, Bob Huff, both of her parents, and her older sister Elizabeth “Betty” Drum. We love you GG and you will always live in our heart.