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Obituary of Donna Gay Paynter
August 9, 1939 – Provost, Alberta
October 13, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta
Donna Paynter, beloved wife of the late Bill Paynter, of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at the age of 82 years.
Donna was born August 9, 1939 in Provost, AB to Walter and Florence Cromarty. The youngest of three children, Donna recounted winter journeys to the local one-room schoolhouse astride her elder brother Jim’s horse while her other brother Bert was towed on skis. Later, Donna enjoyed her time in CGIT and playing point guard on her school basketball team. In 1956, she caught the eye of a young man who was doing relief telegraph duty at the CP train station. Bill and Donna would spend the next 61 years together. Donna was the first in her family to attend university, graduating from the University of Alberta as a registered nurse. Donna’s time as a nursing student was an experience full of hard work and wonderful memories. She remained in contact with many classmates for the rest of her life. Bill and Donna married in 1962, an event shared with dear friends, Mack and Sherrill Holt, and Ted and Sylvia Steventon, who would forever be uncles and aunts to each others’ children. Bill’s work as a lineman for Calgary Power took the young couple first to Brooks, where sons, Gord and Rob were born, then Hughenden in 1967 where they bought their first home. Short-term postings in Calgary and Edmonton led to a permanent position for Bill in Calgary in 1972 and the family moved to a new house on the outskirts of town in a neighbourhood called Lake Bonavista. Donna and Bill would call this house home for the rest of their lives. Within a year or two, Donna and Bill were active members of McDougall United Church, a congregation in which they found friends, purpose and faith for nearly 50 years. A devoted mother, Donna stayed at home while her sons were young before returning to work as a nurse, primarily at the Foothills and Rockyview Hospitals. During her own time, Donna pursued a number of artistic pursuits but excelled most at knitting and quilting. Donna’s quilts are treasured and well-used keepsakes for children, grandchildren, and dear friends, marking special events for each over the years. In their retirement, Donna and Bill broadened their horizons, travelling widely. Retirement also provided an opportunity to spend long summers at their cottage on Crimson Lake where they found yet another community of wonderful friends…and loons.
Donna is survived by sons, Gordon (Pam Brandt), and Robert (Kristi Repay); grandchildren, Maila Moon and Spencer; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Loraine Cromarty; sisters-in-law, Ethel Fidler and Patricia Jackson, and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Donna’s Life will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. which will be closed to the public due to Covid regulations, however, family and friends are invited to join the service live via McDougall United’s YouTube channel https://tinyurl.com/3t5ww7t7. A recording of the service will also remain on the site for later viewing.
In living memory of Donna Paynter, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.
