Donna Lee Kendrick

Donna Lee Kendrick (87) passed away peacefully on June 17, 2013, at the Sunshine House, Calimesa, CA, where she had lived for over 6 years. Born June 24, 1925, in Jewell County, KS, she was the ninth of twelve children born to Will and Nellie Fogo. She grew up on the farm helping with the chores, graduating in 1943 from Burr Oak High School, Burr Oak, KS. From an early age she wanted to be a nurse until she witnessed an actual operation, and then decided teaching would be more to her liking. After graduating from high school, she spent the next two years teaching in a 1-room schoolhouse. She then enrolled in Wichita State College, Wichita, KS. In Wichita she met a handsome soldier who had just returned from serving over three years in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. After several months of courtship, she married Curtis H. Kendrick on August 24, 1946, and they remained so for 53 years until his passing in 2000. She and Curtis moved to the Texas Panhandle (Borger, Texhoma and Stratford) where they raised their four children; he, a share crop farmer and she, a homemaker and schoolteacher. She lived in the same home in Stratford for more than 40 years, moving to Calimesa in 2006 to be near her son David. Always interested in teaching, Donna returned to college to pursue her teaching degree. She graduated from Panhandle State College, Goodwell, OK, in 1966 and later earned her master s degree from West Texas State University, Canyon, TX, in 1974. She taught 5th grade in Stratford for 22 years until her retirement. She loved teaching and interacting with children of all ages. She was passionate about her family and looked forward to spending any amount of time with them. She never wanted any gifts, but only the gift of time with family. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who put her family above herself. Anytime she was asked for advice she would say, Love your family. She enjoyed playing all kinds of games especially with her grandchildren who affectionately called her Mama Donna. She was an avid bridge player and a Connect-4 champion. She did not like to lose. She enjoyed collecting blue glass, power walking, and spoiling her dog, Ginger-Snap. She was active in her church and served the Lord with her gentle and loving spirit. She is survived by her four children David and Sherry Kendrick, Yucaipa, CA; Steven and Sherry Kendrick, Mechanicsburg, PA; Dana and Russell Maddox, North Richland Hills, TX; and Rodney Kendrick, Bellevue, WA. Grandchildren include Christopher Kendrick, Erik Kendrick, Toby Kendrick, Brandi King, Erin Tooley, Andrew Maddox, Robert Kendrick, and Dana Kendrick along with 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by four siblings Hazel Stellmacher (91), Lawrence, KS; Virginia Townsend (90), Sacremento, CA; William (Joe) Fogo (82), Olathe KS; and Rodney Fogo (79), Dunwoody, GA In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Sunshine House, 331 Sandalwood Dr., Calimesa, CA 92320. Funeral is set for 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 29, at the First Baptist Church, Stratford, TX, with interment at Stratford Cemetery. Arrangements handled by Emmerson-Bartlett Memorial Chapel, Redlands CA, and Morrison Funeral Directors, Dumas TX.