Donna Blackorby

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- Donna K. Blackorby, 72, formerly of Thebes, Illinois, passed away at 8:05 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, at her residence.

She was born Aug. 19, 1944, in Cape Girardeau, the daughter of the late Ivan and Esther (Tucker) Weaver.

She married Harold Blackorby Jr. on March 6, 1963, in Cottage Hills, Illinois, and he survives.

Other survivors include four children, Denise (Steven) Gray of Smithton, Illinois, Deena (Jerry) Cates of Edwardsville, Harold Blackorby III of St. Louis and Lois (James) Eagleson, and her three beloved grandchildren, Cody Cates, Christiana Gray and Colin Gray.

Donna was employed as a laboratory technician beginning at St. Joseph's Hospital in Alton, Illinois, and then for Quest Diagnostics in St. Louis for 21 years.

She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in St. Charles, Missouri, where she was very active. Donna and her husband served on the mission field to Newfoundland, Canada, and Alaska.

In celebration of her life, visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Pitchford Funeral Home in Wood River, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. The Rev. Kevin Kolb will officiate. Burial will follow at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Mission House of Faith Baptist Church in Freeburg, Illinois.