Donna Kay Cowan Atkinson

Donna Kay Cowan Atkinson, 81, died October 30, 2021, at her Jefferson City home. She was born at Boston Township, Barton County, Missouri on July 15, 1940, to Frank Oral Cowan and Norma Rae Ellis Cowan. She was the Valedictorian of her 1958 graduating class at Golden City High School and was a 1962 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia Business College, one of the few women enrolled there at the time. At UMC she was active the Association of Women Students, Who's Who, Theta Sigma Phi, Mortar Board, and Alpha Gamma Delta. She was selected One of the Fifty Outstanding Women on Campus in 1961. She married Robert Donald Atkinson of Boonville, Cooper County, Missouri in the Golden City Methodist Church on the evening of June 23, 1962. They had two children: James Robert and Philip Craig Atkinson. The couple divorced in 1992. Donna worked at the Missouri State Welfare Office in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and the University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan before raising her family in Macon and Jefferson City, Missouri. She was a Purchaser & Expediter at Septagon Industries (Ludwig & Associates) from 1979, until her retirement in 2005, and was a researcher at the Missouri State Archives until 2014. In Macon Donna was President of the Anti-Rust Club, the oldest non-federated women's club west of the Missouri River. In Jefferson City, she was a member and officer in the First Christian Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). She served as Cub Scout Leader, PTO officer, teacher of English as a Second Language, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School volunteer, and co-chaired many church committees. She sang in choirs, performed in vocal groups, served on the Board of Linn Technical College, Nichols Career Center, Jazz Fest, and Multi-Cultural Festival. Donna was an avid genealogist. Between 2011 and 2013, she published a two-volume history of the Atkinson-Cowan Family and Allied Lines. Donna's passions were her family and many friends who gave her so much joy during her lifetime. Friends Ioan, Geta, and Alina Dacila became her extended family, opening their home and offering support through many years. Preceding Donna in death are her mother and father; sister Norma Lou Cowan Tuttle; father and mother-in-law, John and Carolyn Holmes Atkinson; brothers-in-law, Ron Tuttle and Paul Atkinson; and daughter-in-law Melissa McClure Lindholm. Donna leaves behind her sons, James Robert Atkinson (Mariate Echeverry) of Asheville, North Carolina; Philip Craig Atkinson (Marianne Imeson) of St. Louis, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Kristin Cameron of Burlington, Iowa; grandchildren, Hannah Rebecca Cameron-Atkinson, William Sharpe Lindholm Atkinson, Harrison McClure Lindholm Atkinson, McKenzie Rose Atkinson; step-granddaughter, Sophia Pereda Echeverry; niece, Anna Marie Frank Cuyler (Otto Cuyler); great-niece, Kelsey Frank; great-nephews, Nicholas Frank (Katie Hogan) and Austin Frank; great-great-nephew, Noah Frank; great-great-niece, Marley Kay Frank, and numerous relatives who meant much to Donna. Freeman Mortuary will host a visitation on Saturday October 13, 2021, from 10 a.m. until noon, followed by a celebration of life at noon. Donations are suggested to the ALS Association (als.org) in memory of Norma Cowan Tuttle, the Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund (jimmyfund.org) in memory of Melissa Lindholm, and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (msfocus.org) in honor of Kristin Cameron. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com