Donna Joan Peterson, 85, of Memphis, Missouri, died Friday, August 25, 2017, at the Scotland County Hospital in Memphis.

She was born December 24, 1931, at Washington, Iowa, to Robert Daryl and Mildred Marguerite (Fuhr) Garrett.

Donna grew up and attended school in the Washington area. She then enrolled in cosmetology courses and in 1951 graduated from beauty school in Burlington, Iowa.

She married Theodore R. Peterson on June 25, 1960, in Quincy, Illinois and to this union three children were born.

Following her marriage, Donna and her husband lived in Milton, Iowa, where she was the owner and operator of Donna's Beauty Salon until the birth of their third child. They moved to Memphis, Missouri in 1980.

Donna enjoyed growing flowers and watching birds. She was a member of the Milton Homemaker's Club and enjoyed playing cards every Saturday night in a Pinochle club and spent hours doing word search books. She will be remembered by her family and friends as an excellent cook. Donna's greatest passion was realized when she could spend time with her family and her two dogs, Dixie and Rocky.

She is survived by her husband, Theodore, of 56 years; two daughters: Nikki Adams and her husband, Jeff, of Memphis and Korki Shumaker and her husband, Brian, of Kirksville, Missouri; a son, Bruce Dempsey, of Memphis; seven grandchildren: Derek Peterson of Memphis, Jennifer Talbert and her husband, Chris, of Lakeland, Florida; Lacey Clark of Ottumwa, Iowa; Jayme Shumaker of Kirksville, Missouri; Paul Boethel and his wife, Sheryl, of Irvine, California; Rachael Harsh and her husband, Kevin, of Washington, Iowa; Alexandra Dempsey of Dallas, Texas; thirteen great grandchildren: Kayden Talbert, Stormi Schultz, Hailei Schultz, Jazmaya Schultz, Everley Anderson, Cash Coridan, Annabell Clark, Chloe Boethel, Easton Boethel, Austin Chalupa, Blake Chalupa, Cera Harsh and Harrison Sallee. Also surviving is her brother, Dean Garrett and his wife, Shirley, of Washington, Iowa; two brothers-in-law: Clark Peterson and his wife, Louise, of Wentzville, Missouri; Douglas Peterson and his wife, Vi, of Melbourne, Australia; a sister-in-law, Carol Ann Baker, of Omaha, Nebraska and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Lance Peterson; a sister, Kathryn Murphy and a granddaughter, Toni Schultz.