Grandma

Friends,

We would like you to know that our dear Mother, Donnalee Folck Spain, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, August 7, 2009 at 10:12p. We hope you do not mind this email notice as there are so many to contact. As with our Father’s passing, we are following her wishes not to have an obituary, but there will be a memorial service with details to be determined soon. It was her desire to treat her family and friends to a buffet luncheon.

After a lifetime of struggling with a mitochondrial disorder, Mom went peacefully and gently. She was an amazing woman and foremost was her faith and prayer life. Throughout her life, Mom struggle with weakness, lack of energy and eye problems. It was not until 1996 that she was diagnosed with Kearns-Sayre Syndrome. Mitochondria was only discovered in the last couple of decades and the 40 some disorders only realized in the last 15 years. Just recently they discovered that mito disorders are extremely common and related to so many other common conditions, such as Parkinson’s and Diabetes. Mom went most of her life struggling with this undiagnosed condition, but in this struggle she learned that God had a purpose. His purpose for her was that of a life committed to prayer for family, friends and this world. Every single day was dedicated to prayer, including the last day of her life. She was able to see many of her prayers answered, and left knowing that many more will be answered in the days and years to come. Her lifelong Bible verse that she claimed for herself is:

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of

Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak,

Then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:9-10

And strong she was. Mom was the strongest weakest frailest person there ever was. On Thursday when she realized that her kidneys had failed, she eagerly embraced her imminent homecoming. Her words over and over were, Hallelujah! She was ready and willing to be free of the burden and finish the race. She missed our father greatly and his name was her last conscious words. We will greatly miss her wisdom, insight, dry sense of humor, warmth and love. We remain immensely proud of her perseverance in suffering; her determination to be independent; her willingness to stand firm in her faith; her love of family and her dog, Rockwell; and so much more. We rejoice in her homecoming! Hallelujah!

Your prayers, assistance and offers of help have meant so much to us. We will get back to you with the details of Mom’s buffet luncheon, which will be in the next week. Burial will be private.

One final word voiced by Mom in her last days. If you are struggling; feeling lost or hopeless; fearing death and beyond; or whatever else may be burdening your heart --- then trust that real hope and truth can be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our existence is just not mere spontaneous science, but part of God’s redemptive plan for His Creation. Mom had great respect for the Biblical teachings of Pastor Alistair Begg. You can find a radio station or listen online at Truth For Life, www.truthforlife.org

Thank you,

The Spain Family

Donnalee Folck Spain

February 10, 1927 to August 7, 2009

married December 24, 1946 to

Gail Elliott Spain, Jr.

August 6, 1925 to November 1, 2005