Donna Faye (Jacques) Harden of Minneola, Kansas was born August 28, 1926, to Edwin Denton and Maude (Butcher) Jacques in Dodge City, Kansas. She was the middle child of five children, Doris Pauline, Edwin, Donna Faye, Bob, and Bill. The middle child syndrome never struck Mom as she was always a ball of fire, filled with determination, and the will to accomplish whatever she set out to do, or what she thought was the RIGHT THING TO DO. For the first eight years of schooling she went to a country school with her brothers Bob and Bill, however upon graduation from 8th grade the school was closed and all children went to Montezuma to school. She graduated from Montezuma High School. Upon graduation she went to work at the Dodge City Coop as an accountant.
The removal of her appendix in 1946 necessitated the taking of a part-time job. She went to work at the Dodge City Harvey House as a Harvey Girl. She thought this was a well-paying job as coffee cost a nickel; however most customers tipped a quarter. Riches!!! She lived in Dodge City for about three years then took a job at the Mullinville Coop. She went to Ashland one weekend to visit a friend, Mary Helen Clark. Mary Helen was asked out by Jack Stevens to attend a gathering at Jack and Betty Hardesty's. Mary Helen replied that she had a friend and that she would not go unless he got a date for Donna Faye. Jack said, "How about Bob Harden?" and she said that would be okay. Thus Mother met the love of the rest of her life on a blind date.
On August 15, 1948, Donna Faye and Bob married in Dodge City, Kansas. They lived in Ashland for two years after their marriage, having their first child, Jacquelyn, in 1950.
One of the conditions of marriage to Bob was that she would not live in Englewood, Kansas, but Englewood was where they moved to about 2 1/2 years after their marriage, thus proving she could roll with the punches with the best.
R.V. was born in 1952 and Dean in 1954. Donna Faye enjoyed her home on the farm outside of Englewood and found it very hard to leave in 2006 when she and Bob moved to an apartment in Minneola.
Once her children were gone from the home Donna Faye went back to school taking some college courses. She got better grades than two of her children who shall remain nameless, noting that R.V. graduated Phi Beta Kappa.
She had a beautiful garden enjoying Peonies, Roses, Poppies and anything unusual that could be raised in the harsh climate of Western Kansas. Donna Faye's major enjoyment was quilts, having several that won in shows and some published in a national magazine. Her use of color was extraordinary, combining colors that were unusual yet pleasing to the eye.
She loved her grandchildren and enjoyed keeping them for a few days. She did make them work sometimes which she declared was "good for them" but also took them swimming after a morning of work. She enjoyed making clothes for her granddaughters and quilts for all the grandchildren. She was a loving, caring and strong woman of faith who was way more liberal in her thinking than her friends and neighbors, however she generally kept that quiet, preferring not to argue. She faced life with Honesty and Integrity and taught her children to do the same. She believed in education as a way to a better, richer life and never stopped learning herself until her disease became too strong.
Donna Faye was a member of UMW, 20th Century, and the Englewood HDU. She was a board member of the Pioneer-Krier Museum and a founding board member of the Southwest Kansas Library System; she was on the fair board for several years. She was involved in her community, always trying to make it a better place to live, even though she thought where she lived was one of the best places to be living.
Preceding Donna Faye in death were her parents; her sister Doris Henderson; and two brothers, Edwin and Robert. She is survived by her husband of 65 years Bob Harden; her daughter Jacquelyn Johnson; her sons, Robert Harden II and Dean (Pat) Harden; grandchildren, Donna Burris, Alex Held, Robert Harden III, Nathan Harden, Amanda Harden and Taylor Harden; great-grandchildren, Dominique Joanne and Nathalie Faye; her brother William (Althea) Jacques; nieces, nephews and many friends.
Memorials given in Donna Faye's name may be made to the
Pioneer-Krier Museum, P.O. Box 862, Ashland, KS 67831.
