Donna Belle Collins, 80

Nov. 8, 1931 - Sept. 13, 2012

On Sept. 13, 2012, Donna, “Big Red” to those closest to her, was received by her Lord Jesus, and reunited with her loved ones who had gone before her. She was born in Spokane in 1931 to Arbie and Belva Tye. She lived out her name as a “Beautiful Lady.”

She was an Outstanding Grad, with many music scholarships, from Lewis and Clark High School, class of 1950. She shared her exceptional voice with many in the Spokane area, both on the radio, and as a soloist at St. John’s Cathedral. She was Miss Army/Air Force and Miss Aplets and Cotlets, in the early ’50s, riding on a float in the Lilac Parade. She was also an accomplished athlete, swimming the backstroke competitively at the national level. She married James R. Shaffer, and together they owned and operated Jim Shaffer Pontiac Cadillac in Kellogg for nearly 20 years. While raising her family, she continued to model for many charitable causes and was proud of having been a former 3Cs Golf Tournament winner in Coeur d’Alene.

Her second husband, Rasmus Collins, succumbed to cancer in 1985. Donna’s family has always been the center of her world. She and her husband, Clarence Moon, enjoyed spending time with their blended family. They also enjoyed dancing, and traveling, especially to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, every winter.

She is survived by her adoring husband, Clarence; daughter Susan and Dan Hunt and their children, Tarah Dixon and Jessica Hunt, as well as great-grandchildren, Shaylie and Shadd Dixon, all of Post Falls; and daughter Debbie Shaffer of Coeur d’Alene; as well as a brother, Duane.

There will be no public services, as Donna, ever the free spirit and never wanting to miss a party, had a living wake, July 4-5, 2006, renting the Hagadone Suite at The Coeur d’Alene Resort, where she enjoyed all of her family and closest friends for the celebration of her life.