Donna Venable

Donna Marie Venable, our Mom, our Nana, passed peacefully surrounded by the love of her whole family.

She was born Oct. 14, 1939, in Fallon, Nev., to Bluford and Margaret Nickles. With an older and younger brother, mom spent her early years in Missouri.

Margaret later married Ray Shelley, who added two more brothers and a move to Tonopah, Nev. Mom spent her teen years living on the Arizona strip, chasing mustangs and going to every roping around.

After high school, she started her career as a supervisor with the Bell Telephone and Telegraph Co. in Merced, Calif. It was there that she met and married Gary Lee Venable. After their daughter, Tina, was born, they decided to move east to be near dad's family. Their son, Sam, was born in Canton, Ohio.

Mom and dad owned several supper clubs and mom graced the stages of them all, singing in her clear beautiful voice. After many years she missed the sagebrush and decided to move her children to Bruneau, on one of the coldest winters in 1971. Needing a way to support herself and us, she opened a custom leather shop. Her handtooled belts, purses and saddles were in great demand, along with the flashy rodeo chaps for all the local cowboys. Mom had a strong work ethic and many nights we went to sleep listening to the tapping of a leather mallet as she finished a project.

As we grew older, mom bought her dream house in Mountain Home. The large yard on a sleepy two-lane road was the real draw. She loved her yard and was constantly planting something. As kids, we caught hell for washing that awful reservoir mud off our trucks into her precious grass! She mourned when the state widened American Legion Boulevard and took so much of her flowers and trees.

One of mom's pleasures in life was to load us kids in the car and spend weekends at the river ranch on the South Fork of the Boise River. We treasure the memories of those days.

Her heart truly belonged to her grandchildren and her first great-granddaughter. Mom adored all five of them and loved hearing each detail of their lives. As her children, we teased her that she was a Nana first, Mom second. She agreed happily! She had a big heart and her house was always open. She usually had one or two stray kids here, along with us.

She was our rodeo team adviser, 4H Leader and made the best cinnamon rolls in the state!

Her open door policy extended to her grandchildren and many people, now grown with children of their own, affectionately remember Nana.

After an accident left her unable to wrestle saddles and heavy sides of leather, she decided to restore china and pottery. We were amazed -- not only could she ride, rope, sing and build saddles, she could paint! We're pretty sure there wasn't much mom couldn't do once she decided it needed done. And heaven help you if you tried to help her!

Nana you taught us, pushed us and sometimes frustrated us, but we all knew you loved us unconditionally. Rest peacefully Momma, watch over us and know that we love you.

Honoring Mom's wishes, there will be no service. A private family memorial to spread her ashes will be held in the mountains that she loved.

Mom leaves a loving family: her daughter, Tina Venable, and her children; grandson Trevor (Ashley) Venable and their daughter, Annachiara; granddaughter Samantha (Devin) Gee; her son, Sam (Marla) Venable and his children; grandson Sabin Venable and granddaughter Serin Von Marenholtz. Mom's faithful pug, Moose, never left her side. She is mourned by her dear friend, Marcia Turner.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents, stepparents, husband, one brother and beloved friend Barbara Meredith.

The family requests no flowers. Instead, please help those affected by the recent wildfires.

Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.