Donna Lee Plummer

Our family would like to share with you the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend. Donna Lee Plummer left us too soon. She passed on February 6, 2025, surrounded by family and friends in Spring Hill, Kansas after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Donna was born in Salina, Kansas February 2, 1953, to Donald Plummer and Norma Plummer. She was preceded in death by her parents. Donna is survived by her sisters Carolyn Duvall (Plummer) and Marilyn Nelson (Plummer). She was also a beloved mother and was survived by her children Jessica Halperin (Dumas), Nicole Birk (Dumas), Jason Andersen, and Carly Njihia (Andersen). She was beloved by her sons-in-law Josh Halperin and Christopher Birk and her daughter-in-law Ashlee Andersen. Her proudest achievements were her nine grandchildren Holdyn Halperin, Shaly Andersen, Danielle Birk, Haisie Halperin, Jaeger Andersen, Harper Halperin, Peyton Andersen, Beckam Birk, and Ashaya Njihia. 

Donna raised her children near Emporia, Kansas (Americus and Admire) and later near Topeka, Kansas (Osage and Carbondale).Throughout the years Donna raised her children, she owned a number of small hair salons where she worked as a hairstylist. She would often work after hours, going to people’s homes to cut and style their hair because they were elderly and could not travel to her. Even after her diagnosis, the urge to work on people’s hair (or her own) did not go away. You would often find her stroking her daughter and granddaughter’s hair as well as “fixing” hair in her Assisted Living Community. She loved a good shampoo and blow dry given by one of her daughters.

After the Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Donna lived with her daughter and son-in-law and enjoyed several years where she was still active and involved with her family and friends. She spent her last two years in an Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility in Spring Hill where she had friends and caretakers. She was visited often by her kids and grandkids and spent weekends with her kids and grandkids. One of the most important aspects of Donna’s life was being a Nana. Over the years, she participated in helping to care for and raise her grandchildren. Every single one is connected in an important way to their Nana, and she leaves a big hole in our family. The grandkids described Nana as warm, gracious, joyful, spunky, fearless, tough, magnetic, selfless, bright, caring, and heavenly. 

Donna worked hard in her life, rarely taking a day off work. She was one of the most stubborn people you would ever meet and one of the least judgmental. She took you exactly as you were, and she did not hold grudges. She was fun, funny, and loved to have a good time. She would not turn down a margarita or a chance to have a beer with someone and enjoy their company. She was the life of the party, and she lit up a room when she entered. Most importantly, she knew how to love fiercely. Her love for her children and grandchildren will be the legacy she leaves in this world. 

There will be a Celebration of Life June 14,2025 with more specific details released later. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in her honor. 

To leave a special message for her family or to share a memory of Donna, please visit the guestbook below.