Donna Ray Summitt

Donna Ray Wade-Summitt, 77, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was born July 19, 1942, in Ash Flat, Arkansas, and went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 28, 2019. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse Lee and Winifred E. McMillan Wade; her husband of 26 years, William Summitt; her son, Willis E. Eversoll; and a sister, Ethalinda Wade. Survivors include her daughter, Norma Eversoll-Yarborough (Leroy) of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; grandsons: Eric Shayne (Dianna) Babcock and their children: Shana, Blaise, and Gunnie Babcock, all of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Joshua Eversoll of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Jered Eversoll (Smantha) and their childen, Connor and Addison Eversoll, and a granddaughter, Jocelyn Eversoll, all of Oklahoma City; five sisters: Judy Murphy of Ash Flat, Shirley Carleson of Rockford, Illinois, Libby Engbarth of Brookings, Oregon, Linda Story of Jonesboro, and Christine Benz of Moore, Oklahoma; two brothers, William Wade of Charleston, South Carolina, and Robert (Kelly) Wade of Ottawa, Kansas; a dear friend, Belinda M. (Wesley) Walker of Jonesboro; many other relatives and good friends. Donna grew up in very humble beginnings. When her dad was discharged from the Navy after WW II, the family traveled looking for work and finally settled in the Ozark Mountains. Since Donna was the oldest, she began working at age 15 to help support the growing Wade family. She picked cotton with her sisters and became a nanny, cook, and housekeeper. She was an expert in finger art; her mother taught all the girls to crochet at an young age, and that became a love and passion for Donna. She learned to knit and created many quilts, afghans, and hundreds of other items. She won multiple ribbons in the Sharp County Fair for her creations. Most of these originals she gave away as gifts of love. Her most recent mission was to knit as many baby blankets and caps for the Promiss Pregnancy Center in Gautier, Mississippi. She was also an avid reader and loved solving puzzles. Receiving her dietetic certification from Ozarka College, Donna worked in the restaurant and nursing home business. She was an excellent pastry cook and made the best fried chicken ever. As poor as they were, she made sure her family ate well. She made chocolate gravy, homemade bread, and a Mississippi Mud pie “to die for”. Donna was an active member of her Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in Ash Flat and then enjoyed the fellowship and love in the ladies class as a member of FBC in Gautier. The family expresses special thanks to all of Donna’s caregivers: Ocean Springs Hospital; Dr. Gregory Mcgee of Mobile, Alabama; Divita in Springfield, Missouri; and Divita in Ocean Springs. Visitation of family and friends will be from 9 a.m. Saturday, August 31, until time of the funeral at 10:30, all in the chapel of Tri-County Funeral Home at Highland, Arkansas. Burial will be in Campground Cemetery between Ash Flat and Evening Shade. Pallbearers: Shana Babcock, Shayne Babcock, Blaise Babcock, Jered Eversoll, Vo Vu, and Robert Wade Honorary Pallbearers: Joshua Eversoll, Kenny Watson, Greg Lute, and Troy Meacham