Donna Lee Verley

March 12, 1931 - January 23, 2014 Donna (aka Dona) Lee Verley aged 82, passed away in Lakewood, CO on 1/23/2014 from COPD. Born in Belleville, KS on 3/12/1931 to Stella and James Verley. She was sister to Dareld Verley who passed away 10/28/2012 and her younger brother, Robert Arnold Craig, from her mother's 2nd marriage to Lee Craig. She loved singing and dancing and was very talented. Throughout her youth, she sang in church, school and local choirs. After graduating from North East High School, Lincoln, NE in 1950, she spent time in Oregon with her brother, Dareld, then headed east to pursue a career as a singer and dancer. She ended up in Virginia where she modeled and sang in Night Clubs. She attended College in Virginia Beach, VA where she met and was engaged to a young Navy Man who was deployed and unfortunately, killed in the Korean War. She subsequently joined a USO tour, singing and teaching dance at Clubs across the U.S. She met her 1st husband, Jimmie Lee Kappers, while volunteering at a USO Dance at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. Wed in 1956, they had their 1st daughter, Debra Lynn in 1959 and their 2nd daughter, Teresa Yvonne, in 1964. She continued to teach ballroom dance and began to dance competitively, winning several competitions. In 1965, after her divorce, she moved her daughters to Englewood, CO to live with her Mother and youngest brother, Robert Craig. While teaching dance at a local nightclub, she met her 2nd husband, Charles McDaniels. They resided in Englewood, CO for many years. Her love of travel, nature and being outdoors motivated frequent trips the Rocky Mountains for camping, hiking, and picnics with her family as well as trips to many other places around the U.S. This love also inspired her to study art again after her children were older. After her divorce from her 2nd husband, she worked caring for people with Alzheimer's and dementia. Throughout her life, she enjoyed learning about different Christian Denominations and spent many years in the Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Nazarene, and Seventh Day Adventist Churches. She is survived by her daughters, Debra Kappers and Teresa Kappers-Wright, Debra's 2 sons, Mark and Kevin, her brother, Robert Craig, and her nephews Jeff and Greg from her brother, Dareld. A small Memorial Service will be held (weather permitting) on Sat. 2/8/2014 at 10:30 a.m. in the conference room at her last residence, Bethany Healthplex Nursing Home, 5301 W. 1st Ave, Lakewood, CO 80226. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her honor to her favorite charity, Angels with Paws Rescue and Adoption Center, 2450 Youngfield St., Lakewood, CO 80215.