Donna J. (Hood) Leise
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 4B Death Notice - February 7, 2018
Donna J. Leise, 75, Fruita, died Feb. 5, 2018, at HopeWest Hospice Care Center. No services will take place. She was the senior budget analyst at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Survivors include one sister, Doris Hilliker of Sheridan, Montana.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - February 11, 2018
Donna J. Leise December 16, 1942 - February 5, 2018
Born December 16, 1942, at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital, Denver, Colorado, Donna died February 5, 2018, at HopeWest Hospice in Grand Junction, Colorado. She is preceded in death by parents, Donald and Ethyl (Campbell) Hood of Lakewood, Colorado, and survived by her sister, Doris, and brother-in-law, Gary Hilliker of Sheridan, Montana, and nephews, John and Michael; very special cousins, Marilyn Connor of Anchorage, Alaska; Krissie Lenahan of Vancouver, Washington, and Bret Connor of Anchorage, Alaska and their families. Donna is further survived by incredibly special friends, Cheryl and Randy Winter of Longmont, Colorado. Particular thanks and acknowledgment go to best and true friend, Donna James who accompanied Donna all the way to the end. Special mention to Barbara and Earl Bolton of Boulder and Eldora, Colorado, Donna’s "adoptive parents" for over 60 years. To the village of loyal friends and neighbors who have helped make this journey so much easier and tolerable, you cannot be thanked enough. After retiring from a 28-year career with NOAA, a federal research agency in Boulder, Colorado, Donna spent many happy years boarding horses and raising a few cows near Longmont, Colorado and in Sheridan, Montana. She always was accompanied by faithful canine friends, Cubbie, Rascal and Bandit and her two wonderful horses, Misty and Cinder. She felt Cinder was her equine soul-mate. She always loved her animals unconditionally. Early in life, her artwork was a sustaining gift. Never to be forgotten are many horse packing and hiking trips with friends through the Colorado mountains. As a child, she loved creating wonders of imaginary ranches in the family sand box and eventually, she was able to realize those childhood dreams. Growing up, she would gorge on sour pie cherries and wild plums, driving her mom nuts! This carried to her later life as her wicked-but-always-appropriate sense of humor. With great relief for Donna, her struggle in the grips of cancer came to a merciful end under beautiful, compassionate care at HopeWest Hospice in Grand Junction, Colorado. She was a strong woman in life and she remained so until the end. She will be missed and loved by many and will be forever in our memories. Her life and friendship was a gift to all of us and we will sorely miss her. "As with all great friendships and loves, one dies and one continues on alone That is the way it must be." Anonymous In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to HopeWest Hospice, 3090B North 12th St., Grand Junction, Colorado 81506.
