LaDonna Kay Watts
May 31, 1962 ~ May 15, 2023
LaDonna Watts, 60, of Russellville passed away at her home on Monday, May 15, 2023 surrounded by her family.
She was born May 31, 1962 in Marion, ILL to the late Ray and Maxine (Creek) Allen. LaDonna’s family moved to Bland, MO where she attended elementary school and was a 1980 graduate of Bland High School. For the past several years, she had been an accounting specialist with FCS Financial in Jefferson City.
On October 13, 2001, LaDonna married Phillip Watts in Centertown. He was the love of her life. Together they enjoyed shooting pool, camping and especially loved to go dancing. She was a huge fan of Elvis even taking a trip with family to visit Graceland. If she wasn’t cheering on the Chiefs or Cardinals, you may find her gardening or bar-b-queing or out with the ladies of the Red Hat Club. LaDonna will especially be remembered for the love she had for her family and grandbabies. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for them. Whenever they came to visit, she always made sure they left with full tummies.
Survivors include her daughter, Tanya (Nathan) Litton-Etgeton of Russellville, her son, Joshua (Kat) Watts of Jefferson City, step-daughter, Jamie Knipp of Lake of the Ozarks, two grandchildren, Megan Crocker and Lyla Litton-Etgeton, three sisters, Debbie (Roger) Scheel, Cheryl (Bill) Heidbreder and Sandy Allen, all of Bland, brother, Darrel (Heather) Allen of Owensville and her faithful puppy, “Toni”. She was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip on September 19, 2022.
Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Enloe Cemetery, Russellville. A Celebration of Life will follow from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Russellville City Park.
Trimble Funeral Homes-Russellville is assisting the family with arrangements. trimblefunerals.com.
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I miss you so much already mommy. I love you so much
I’m so very sorry for your family’s loss
Hard to believe my baby sister has gone to be with the Lord.I know she is with family . Will be missed so much. But she did everything in her own way in her own time. She was a very strong woman .
So sorry to hear this, Ladonna was a wonderful person. Hugs and Prayers to all her family.
She was a great person, love and miss you always. Fly high my dear friend.
So sorry for your loss. Donna was a life long friend to my sister Janie. They always had loads of fun together. I’m sure they are already cutting up and laughing together in Heaven.
I am so very sorry for your loss—-She was a sweetheart. Always enjoyed seeing her and Phillip when we would travel to Missouri to see Uncle John and the cousins. My prayers are with your family as you face this grief and loss.
Love Glennda Currence
What a beautiful soul! So blessed to have had her in my life! Whenever I walked into a room the look on her face was nothing but sheer delight she was always so genuinely played to see me and to lift my spirits! I rejoice with you that she is in heaven with Jesus and all of her loved ones! May God bless all of ladonna’s family and friends. Love, Stacy Ousley
LaDonna you touched my heart in so many ways. You will be greatly missed. I know that heaven is very lucky & you are not only in God’s hands but wrapped in Phillip’s arms.
A very sweet kind lady
So very sorry for your loss. We are friends with Cheryl and bill . Have been welcomed with open arms with Cheryl’s gmfamily . A very kind and considerate bunch of people. Even though I only met Ladonna once she was like the rest a great family of people. We know it is bc a battle of pancreatic cancer but god took Ladonna fast so I am sure Ladonna had a lot of pain . So keep all your memories on your heart and thank god for taking her home so she can rest in peace .
So very sorry for your loss. We are friends with Cheryl and bill . Have been welcomed with open arms with Cheryl’s gmfamily . A very kind and considerate bunch of people. Even though I only met Ladonna once she was like the rest a great family of people. We know it is bc a battle of pancreatic cancer but god took Ladonna fast so I am sure Ladonna had a lot of pain . So keep all your memories on your heart and thank god for taking her home so she can rest in peace .
To all of LaDonna’s Family – – You are in my thoughts and prayers and so sorry for your loss. May God Bless each of you.
My deepest heartfelt sympathies go out to her family . LaDonna was an amazing person , she sure loved her kids and grandkids ❤️ Every time I saw her that’s all she talked about, she will be deeply missed.
She was tenacious and resolute yet flamboyant and larger than life!
The echos of her laughter and the warmth of her humor,
the entertainment of her Elvis dance impressions (with Jill Schlottog) and the depth of her compassion. The set of lungs she had in Mr Hancock’s music class and the undeniable respect she had for Mr. Epperson. The lengths she would go to for friends and the helping hand she extended to underclassmen.
These are a few of the things I remember fondly.
The friendship she exuded was felt by all who met her. She was gifted with a personality that exploded with FUN! and could lift someone from the deepest of woes. It was infectious and endearing.
She was athletic and a true sport. She was a team player (win or lose) and she made sure everyone felt like part of the team.
She had an abundance of admiration from classmates and school mates. I wonder if she truly knew that?
Time gets away from us, days go swiftly by. LaDonna was extraordinary and her classmates were too.
The halls of the old Bland School were filled with stories and jokes, barbs and shenanigans, carousing and cavorting, Cracker Jack stunts and memories that make school days memorable. Those were the good ole days and they were the best —- most of us just didn’t recognize it at the time.
In true Elvis fashion, she can say “I did it my way”.
Rest In Peace LaDonna. You touched lives, made people smile, and will fondly be remembered.
LaDonna and Phillip Watts what a couple they were. We had so many parties at the house and the playing pool and eating as always. Oh how she loved to cook and could make some awesome red beans and rice along with the 7 layer salad. How LaDonna and I would always have to take care of Phillip and Tracy when they had a little too much. She did love her family and friends very much and was always the one to help
others as they needed. Her kids and grandbabies were everything to her as well. No matter what she always had a smile on her face and she was always trying to see the best in everything as well. It was always about having fun and try not to take everything so personal because life is too short. I know you
and Phillip are dancing in the heavens above looking down on everyone. Rest in peace with no pain. You will be missed.
Tracy and Donna Hayden
So so sorry for you loss🙏🙏🙏
Colene Rush Jone Jackson
😢❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
Deepest sympathy to your family from your Florsheim friends Wilma Distler and Billie Sue Boltin
My heartfelt sympathy to your family at this sad time. Our loved ones are never gone but with us in our hearts.
Sending Love and prayers.