Donna L. Ogilvie

Donna L. Ogilvie
September 19, 1930-May 14, 2013

Donna L. Ogilvie, 82, died on Tuesday, May 14, 2013. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Carl and Helen Dunkeson. Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Ogilvie. She leaves behind Four sons, Mike Jennings and Alissa Simmons; Steve and Brenda Jennings; Everett Ogilvie and Kathy Verhage, Chip and Nancy Ogilvie. She had four grandchildren, Justin Jennings, Grace and Ian Ogilvie, and Elizabeth Jennings. She is survived by two brothers: Larry Dunkeson and Shiloh Orion. Donna's professional career was in communications. Upon graduation from Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, she worked for the Cleveland News, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Akron Beacon Journal. After moving to Farmington, she worked at the Daily Times. In 1978, she became public relations director for San Juan Regional Medical Center, beginning the Center's publication Vital Signs. In 1982, she served as community relations specialist, and then Director of Marketing, for San Juan College where she remained until retirement in 1993-94. Donna's first assignment at SJC was to help coordinate the successful move to independence for the college. She began the college monthly newsletter, The Communicator, which is still in publication. She won many regional and national awards for her work. After retirement, she remained active assisting groups with public relations. She continued working with the college, helping initiate the Encore program and taking part in Encore classes. She continued taking Encore classes all her life. Travel was special to Donna, and in the late 1970's, she and Tom became partial owners of Horizon Travel. She also loved being involved in various community groups, especially the San Juan Animal League. She was a past president of the Anasazi Foundation, and a member of the San Juan College Fine Arts Committee and the San Juan Rotary Club. She was a deacon and elder of First Presbyterian Church, and also enjoyed attending services at San Juan Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. She worked with students as a Project Read volunteer, and acted as public relations director for the county Democratic Party. Donna served on the board of the Civic Center Foundation, and was one of the founding members of the San Juan Stage Company(little theater) where she directed a number of memorable plays. She liked to remember that she began in little theater at the Brecksville Little Theater in Ohio, where Paul Newman started his career. She helped organize, and was a member of, several reading and study groups; was an avid bridge player, and loved crossword puzzles. Donna won a number of awards for her service, including being named Woman of the Year; Women's Leadership Conference, 1992; San Juan College Hall of Fame, 1995; Farmington History Makers, 2009. She was a Paul Harris fellow for Rotary in 2000. Memorial services will be 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, at the First Presbyterian Church, 865 N. Dustin Ave. in Farmington. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to the Regional Animal and Pet Shelter Foundation, 4409 Sandia, Farmington, NM 87401. Donna's care is entrusted to Alternative Choice, 804 N. Dustin Ave. in Farmington, 505-325-9611.