Donna Jean McElroy

Donna Jean McElroy, a Dayton resident passed away at her home in Dayton, Nevada after a battle with cancer on November 28, 2013. She was 72 years old. Donna was born on November 1, 1941 in Warren Ohio the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Friga (Butler). She grew up and attended schools in Warren, Ohio graduating from Cortland High School, after which she attended a year of college. Donna served in the United States Air Force as a WAF Medic. She met and later married Gary E. McElroy on August 18, 1979 in South Lake Tahoe. The couple lived in Livermore, California from 1979 until 2006 when they moved to Dayton. Donna’s work history included working as a QA inspector for Hexcel Medical, Kirschner Medical, Ford Aerospace, Loral Space Systems, & the Space Sciences Lab at the University of Berkeley. Donna was involved with the Ravenswood Progress League in Livermore, CA., and was a docent at the Ravenswood Historical Site. Donna was very interested in history. When she moved from Livermore to Dayton, NV, the first thing that she did was look for a place that she could use her interests in history. She found it at the Historical Society of Dayton Valley. She enjoyed dressing up in period costume but giving tours of the historical structures and talking about history was something that she enjoyed even more. Donna was also interested in the wild horses of Nevada and joined the Wild Horse Preservation League of Dayton Valley. Donna also worked as an Americorp Vista teaching English as a second language. Donna is survived by her husband; Gary Everett McElroy, Daughter; Tracie Lynn Sweet (Toyer) (Ron) of Windsor, Cal, Son; William Timothy Toyer of Santa Rosa, Cal, Step-Daughter; Renee Marie Martz (McElroy) of Livermore, Cal, and Step-Son; Sean Everett McElroy (Carla) of Angels Camp, Cal, granddaughters; Britni Ann Burnham, Tabatha Jachlich (Sweet) and her husband Mathew, Brittany Danielle Mack, and Kyla Kathleen Sweet. Grandsons; Kevin Allen Sweet, Cory James Hardesty, James Everett McElroy, Jessie James McElroy and Tyler Lynn Hardesty, Great-granddaughters; Rocquele Virronchi, Eliana Gomez, Rochelle Kay Jacklich, and Sophia McElroy, Great-Grandsons; Julio Burnham, and Mathew David Jacklich Jr. Sisters; Patricia Hermison, Irene Deemer and Joann Gray (Robert), Brothers; Michael Friga (Gail) and George Friga. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, and one sister Rose Judson.

Tributes

Donna Jean McElroy

November 1, 1941 - November 28, 2013